Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the role of government in building and maintaining structures in a community.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Pencil
• Internet access (optional)

No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Start by discussing with the student the different types of buildings they see in their community. Ask them to name a few and describe their purposes.

2. Explain to the student that the government plays an important role in building and maintaining these structures. Discuss how the government decides which buildings to construct and how they fund these projects.

3. Ask the student to draw their favorite building from their community. Encourage them to think about why they chose that particular building and what they like about it.

4. If internet access is available, you can search for images of famous buildings around the world. Discuss with the student how these buildings were funded and the significance they hold for their respective communities.

Second Grade Talking Points

• "The government helps decide which buildings to build in our community."
• "They also decide how to pay for these buildings. Sometimes they use tax money collected from the people in the community."
• "Different buildings serve different purposes. For example, we have schools for learning, hospitals for taking care of sick people, and libraries for borrowing books."
• "The government wants to make sure our community has safe and functional buildings for everyone to use."
• "Sometimes the government also helps maintain the buildings, making sure they stay in good condition and fixing them if they get damaged."