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Social Studies Curriculum Social Studies - 3rd Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 3: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Community Member

Students delineate their civic rights and responsibilities as members of their community and the limits to their rights when they conflict with the rights of others. Students are introduced to the concepts of civil rights, public virtue, and civic engagement.

Compelling Questions:

  • What do you like about your community? Are there changes you would like to make?
  • Who decides what your community is like?
  • How can you demonstrate respect for others in your community?
  • How has your community improved, and how can you help your community continue to improve?
  • How are your local leaders chosen, and how does your community assure that its leaders do what your community wants and/or needs?

Standard 3.3.1

Analyze how their community has been shaped by the diverse people who have resided within it. Compare primary and secondary sources (when available) from or about these people.
  • Aldean and the Red-Tailed Hawk: A White Mesa Ute Story
    Aldean Ketchum is a White Mesa Ute tribal member. He grew up in southern Utah. He is a storyteller and flute player. He share a story about a hawk. The Ute people have a close association with nature and a respect for all living things. They share the earth with animals, and they look to them for guidance. The Utes honor the hawk in ceremonies, and they use hawk feathers in their regalia. Students will learn more about the White Mesa Ute tribe, birds of prey (raptors) and engage in strategies before, during and after reading the story. 
  • Communities and Their Environment
    In this lesson students will write a research report about communities and how they use their environment. Students will use CultureGrams from the Utah's Online Library to complete their research. Main Thumbnail was found at: "The group of children, 1909" by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.
  • Father Sky & Mother Earth: A Navajo Legend
    Caring for the Earth is an important part of responsible decision-making and global citizenship. Our Father Sky and Mother Earth provide for our most basic needs. We need to protect and care for our environment. Through this lesson, students will strengthen thier social and emotional learning skills by reading a Navajo legend - "Father Sky and Mother Earth." Student will explore how they can be good stewards of the Earth and Sky in protecting our natural resources. 
  • How Badger, Skunk and Sage Hen Were Marked
    According to Paiute legend, the hawk and the coyote were not always animals as we see them now. Long ago, they were people, like you and me. The hawk was known as Kuhsawv, and the coyote was known as Soonungwuv. Coyote tales are part of the Paiute oral tradition used to teach proper behavio, natural phenomenon and values from an early age. These stories are only told during the winter time. The Coyote illustrates the mischievous nature in all of us. Students will listen to a Paiute tale and learn about folktales. They will also be introduced to the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the location and how tribal members are working to preserve their language and culture. Students will also learn about how external structures and adaptations of animals help them to survive in their environment through a group activity. 
  • Northwestern Shoshone Fish Song
    Sing a Northwestern Shoshone song.
    Write a narrative story about an experience in nature.
    Create music compositions patterned after the song.
    This lesson is written in partnership with and approved by the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation Cultural Specialist, Patty Timbimboo-Madsen and Paula Watkins, library consultant to the tribal nation. Before teaching this lesson, please explain to your students that there are many Indigenous tribes in Seal for the Northwestern Shoshonethe United States and that this lesson specifically focuses on a song of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and does not represent other Native American groups. It is the hope of the Northwestern Shoshone that other native tribes will respect their choice to share this aspect of their culture.
  • The Eye Juggler Coyote
    This lesson utilizes the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation (UIT) tale, ?The Eye Juggler Coyote? to enhance comprehension skills, provide an introduction to how force affects motion and give information about the UIT. The students will read the tale and then use the story to learn about gravity and balanced forces. The connection of the Ute people to the bison will also be explored. The Ute people tell stories about Coyote and other animals to their children. Based on Coyote?s mistakes, the elders teach children about proper behavior and positive attitudes. The lessons learned help them avoid making the same mistakes Coyote made and suffering the consequences in their own lives.


UEN logo http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.