Providence Spring Elementary's Character Trait of FEBRUARY is…
Citizenship
4th Grade Level
STEP ONE / OPENING
Greet the students and tell them you will be discussing the character trait citizenship with them. Ask the
following questions and call on different students for answers. Below each question are examples of the
type of responses you're looking for. You may need to rephrase their answers or help guide them along.
What is a CITIZEN?
* Someone that is part of a group, a town, a city or a country.
* As members of the community, as the CITIZENS that are, we each have freedoms and
privileges and responsibilities.
What does good CITIZENSHIP mean?
* Being responsible, caring and respectful to the people, animals, and to the environment
in all the places where you are a citizen.
* Being informed about the needs within your school, community, country, group.
* Doing your best to make your home, school, and community a better place.
What are some ways you can SHOW good citizenship?
* Follow the rules and obey laws at school, home and in your community.
* Respect authority like parents, teachers, police officers and other community helpers.
* Participate in activities to improve your community and the environment.,
For instance picking up litter, recycling, and planting trees and flowers.
* Be a good neighbor and volunteer to help others.
* Donate food or clothing to help someone in need.
* Learn about the candidates running for public office and participate in kids’ voting and
encourage others to vote too.
* Use kind words and good manners in all situations.
Why is showing good citizenship important?
* We need good citizens to make our school and community better for everyone.
* It is our duty and obligation as American citizens to do our part.
STEP TWO / READ A BOOK TO THE CLASSROOM
Choose a book to read from our designated Character Education section in the school's Media Center.
(Library)
4th GRADE / BOOK CHOICES IN OUR LIBRARY:
1. Mayor for a Day
2. Light Your Candle
3. Why do we have Laws?
4. We the Kids/The Preamble to the constitution
You can reserve your time-slot by writing the date and time you need the book on a post-it
and placing the post-it on the book so other volunteers can see.
- Please remember to always check the book out at the front desk.
- Please do not read a book from a tablet or Ipad.
STEP THREE / ACTIVITY
Choose an Activity from the list below
STEP FOUR / CLOSING COMMENTS / HAND OUT BOOKMARKS
Read and discuss the below quote and then give a bookmark to each student.
Bookmarks template on last page.
Make copies as needed on colored or plain paper or card stock.
You may use the media center's workroom's cutting machine.
Quote this month for 4th and 5th graders:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F Kennedy
Good Citizen Quotes. Write your own!
Materials: Blank strips of paper and a poster board
Write this quote on the board and discuss what it means: "You are on the pathway to a successful life
when you do more for your community than your community does for you." ~Unknown
Next: Pass out strips of paper and have the students write their own citizenship quote. Have each student
share his/her quote with the class.
Glue all of the quotes on a poster board and display them in the classroom.
My "Good Citizenship" Selfie-Emoji
Materials: A template of The Selfie-Emoji for each student.
Explain the meaning of CITIZEN: Being a member of a group. Give examples (or take examples) of
what groups one might be a citizen of. Such as PSE, Boy Scouts, Y-Guides, their home, the classroom,
Charlotte, their Soccer Team, Comminuty, (like Providence Plantation), Swim team, USA, etc.
What are ways you can be helpful as a member (or Citizen) of a group?
We are goimg to draw a Selfie - Emoji. Pass out a template to each student.
Instruct the students to color in their Selfie-Emoji and to write down three ways they show others that
they are a good citizen.
When finished, Ask for volunteers to share what they have done with the class.
The Olympics (Rock-Paper-Scissors)
Materials: Post-its and 5 small prizes like pencils, erasers, etc.)
What is one of the things that makes us good citizens? Participation!
Olympic athletes are good citizens because they are trying their best to make our country feel proud of our
athletic talents. Explain what the Olympics are and why we have them. (brings the country and the world
close to each other to promote unity. it’s an opportunity for people/countries to show their best
performance, promotes good sportsmanship, good health and a sense of healthy competition).
Assign each table (or group of 5) a name for their team (It can be a real country or they can make up a
country name). They should wear their team name on a post-it stuck to their shirt.
You will now have rock-paper-scissors OLYMPICS.
Line the kids up in two long lines facing each other. Have everyone go at the same time. The winners from
the first round stay standing. The rest sit back down. Keep going until you have the final GOLD winner.
Award the winner and whole team (country) with the same prize.
Wrap up by talking about how the Olympics can give a country a feeling
of togetherness as citizens.
!
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
~ John F. Kennedy
My “Good Citizenship” Emoji
My Name_______________________
!
What makes ME a good citizen?