Grades 2–5
Class Vote: Ballots and Tally
Hold a real class election: 6 cut-out ballots, a tally chart and a results box. In the United States, citizens can vote at 18.
Social studies worksheet · Government and citizenship
How I Can Be a Good Citizen
A good citizen checklist kids can use all week, plus a drawing and a promise for how they will help their community.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Government and citizenship, Rules and laws, Voting, Rights and responsibilities
What kids do
“Check the good citizen actions you did this week. Then draw yourself helping your community.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Followed the rules
- Was kind to someone new
- One thing I will do to make my school or town better
Teacher tip
Use the checklist all week and talk about it on Friday.
How to use it
- Connect the sheet to your class rules or a class vote.
- Use simple examples: the mayor helps the town, the governor helps the state.
- Keep a classroom globe, a world map and a U.S. map in reach while kids work.
Watch for
Keep politics neutral. Focus on how government works, not on parties or people.
Talk about it
- Why do we need rules and laws?
- What did you learn that surprised you?
Take it further
Write a letter to a local leader about a real problem.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More government and citizenship worksheets
Grades 2–5
If I Were President
Kids imagine being President: draw a portrait, make 3 promises and invent a new law, with real facts about the job.
Grades 2–3
Rule or Law?
12 everyday sentences to sort: circle R for a rule (raise your hand, clean up your toys) or L for a law (stop at a red light, wear a seat belt).
Grades 2–5
Rights and Responsibilities
Cut out 12 cards and sort citizens’ rights (go to school, speak freely, vote at 18, a fair trial) from responsibilities (obey laws, pay taxes, serve on a jury, respect others).
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.