Lesson 1 - Good Citizens 

Curriculum Area: ​Social Studies  Approximate Time: ​30-45 minutes 

Standard: 
Standard 2 ​(Citizenship): Students will recognize and practice civic responsibility in the 
community, state, and nation.  
Objective 1 - ​Examine civic responsibility and demonstrate good citizenship. 
a. Describe characteristics of being a good citizen through the examples of 
historic figures and ordinary citizens.  

Essential Questions:  Objectives: 

● What does it mean to be a good  ● Students will explore the 
citizen?  characteristics and actions of good 
● What do good citizens do?  citizens. 
● Students will understand what it 
● How do good citizens act? 
means to be a good citizen and 
● How can we be good citizens?  brainstorm ways they can be good 
● How can we show respect for our  citizens. 
school and community? 

Vocabulary: 
Citizen, Characteristics, Respect 

Activities:  Materials:  
● Give pre-assessment.  ● 21 Good Citizen 
● Class discussion about what a  worksheets/graphic organizers  
● The book “The Empty Pot” by Demi 
citizen is. 
● SmartBoard 
● Class discussion about the  ● Whiteboard  
characteristics of good citizens.  ● Dry erase markers 
● Class discussion about how we can 
be good citizens. 
● Worksheet/graphic organizer of 
ways students can be good citizens 
at home and at school. 
● Read the book “The Empty Pot”. 
● Class discussion about the book.  

Accommodations: 
● Give the pre-assessment verbally so students who struggle with reading will be 
able to access the content. 
 ● Have early finishers talk about their worksheet answers with each other.  
 
● Give pre-assessment 
● Class discussion: What is a citizen?  
○ What is a good citizen? 
○ What characteristics do good citizens have? 
○ How do good citizens act? 
● Draw web organizer on board with student responses 
○ “Good citizen” goes in the middle, student responses go on the outside 
○ Example: 

 
● Using a graphic organizer worksheet, have students write 2 ways they can be good 
citizens… 
○ At home 
○ At school 
● ***Model how to fill out graphic organizer*** 
● Read “The Empty Pot” by Demi 
● Have a class discussion about the book 
○ Was Ping a good citizen?  
○ How was he a good citizen? 
○ What characteristics does Ping have that make him a good citizen? 
○ What can we learn from this story?