Name:Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
Brief Description of the Site:
The site map offers grade-specific (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) clickable links in an alphabetic listing of the site’s many topics, ranging from “Amending the Constitution†(for grades 9-12) to “Yankee Doodle — Symbols of U.S. Government†(for grades 3-5). Teachers or students can browse and select, and each click brings up another nugget of information. With Flag Day on June 14, your students might want to discover the significance of the colors red, white, and blue. The site is loaded with similar fascinating facts. For example, when the President is about to appear, how many times does the U.S. Marine Band play “Ruffles and Flourishes†before launching into “Hail to the Chief?†But the site offers more serious topics as well, such as information on citizenship, on the Electoral College, the Order of Succession, and much more. There’s also an assortment of fun learning activities labeled “Games.â€
How to use the site:
This is an ideal place for students to start research on a civics project or any project dealing with our form of government. Answers to “What is required to amend the U.S. Constitution?â€; “What are the words of the Oath of Office?â€; “Who was the second (tenth, oldest, youngest, etc.) U.S. President?â€; and as many other questions as the clever teacher can devise can all be found at this nicely-done and easy-to-use site, a product of the GPO (Government Printing Office).
