Grade 3: Sample Learning Activities

Ask students to define the term "nation" and to provide examples of different nations around the world. Students should explain that a nation consists of its physical territory, people, laws, customs and traditions, ways of making a living, and its form of government. Discuss with students how the United States is a nation and that it interacts with other nations of the world.
Ask students to brainstorm why communities and nations create governments to enact rules and laws. Students might note that rules and laws are developed to maintain order; protect individual rights; promote health and safety; provide essential human services; promote economic growth and development; protect the natural environment; and resolve disputes among individuals, groups, and the government. Have students write about or illustrate ways that rules and laws satisfy these societal needs.
Have students research different holidays and festivals celebrated by various world nations. Ask students to determine the origins of these holidays and festivals and describe how they are celebrated. Students might investigate holidays and festivals such as: Cinco de Mayo, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Passover, and Easter. Students can present their research to the class and use audio visuals to discuss the importance of each holiday or celebration.
Ask students to identify various symbols that are used by world communities and nations to express their national spirit. Have students find out what symbols different nations use to represent what they value and use to express their national pride. Students can identify buildings, monuments, religious symbols, and statues that symbolize what various communities and nations value. These symbols might include the Greek Parthenon, Roman Forum, Eiffel Tower, Dome of the Rock, Wailing Wall, Washington Monument, Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramid, and Taj Mahal.
Provide students with copies of different national flags and have them research the symbolism represented by the colors and objects or images found on each flag. Students might start with flags of the United States and Canada. You can find information about different national flags in the publication, "A Salute to Our Flag," available from the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program of the NYS Bar Association. The teacher's guide for this publication, available on the LYC website at www.lycny.org, contains background information on a number of national flags.
Have students provide definitions for different types of governments including: monarchy, republic, theocracy, and dictatorship. For each type of government, ask students to prepare charts that show: how leaders are selected; how rules and laws are made and enforced; how disputes are resolved; how laws are interpreted; what rights and responsibilities citizens hold; and to what extend citizens can participate in their government. Ask students to identify nations that have adopted these different types of governments.
Provide students with information about how nations and communities interact with one another through cultural contacts, trade, diplomacy, treaties, international exchanges, humanitarian aid, medical exchanges, and, at times, military conflict. Ask students to select two nations or communities and to prepare a report or presentation that shows different ways that these communities or nations interact. Ask students to research how natural disasters, wars, epidemics, famine, and revolutions sometimes bring communities and nations together to provide relief to the victims of these tragic events.
Provide students with pictures or drawings of the following United States monuments and buildings and ask them to identify them and explain their significance: Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the White House, Capitol, Mount Rushmore, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, St. Louis Arch, Alamo, Empire State Building, Capitol Building in Albany, Ellis Island, and the United Nations Building. Have students research the history of these buildings and monuments and explain how they symbolize the values and beliefs expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
Provide students with background information on the structure and functions of the United Nations (UN). Ask students to summarize the history and mission of the United Nations and to explain its goals for world peace. Provide them with information about the roles of Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt in the creation of the United Nations. Have students research examples of how the UN attempted to resolve world conflicts, assist in peace keeping missions, and provide aid in times of natural disaster and local military conflicts. Help students visit the United Nations website at www.un.org or at www.unicef.org for UNICEF to research how the United Nations provides health care, education, food, and other kinds of relief to children around the world. Teacher and student activities related to the history and work of the United Nations can be found at www.un.org, click on cyber school bus on the home page.
Provide students with a list of communities or nations from around the world including a representative sample from different continents. Communities Around the World, a teachers' guide developed for grade 3, includes information about several world communities. This publication is available from the New York State Education Department, Publications Sales Desk at (518) 474-3806. After individual students or small groups have selected a nation or community, provide them with information that will help them answer the following questions*:
An online teacher resource guide for grade 3 social studies is also available from the State Education Department at www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/grade3. This resource guide provides information about how to define world cultures and about how to select world cultures for study as part of the grade 3 social studies program.