Grades 2–4
What Do Taxes Pay For?
12 things to sort: what our taxes pay for (public schools, fire trucks, roads, libraries) and what families buy for themselves (a video game, a birthday cake).
Social studies worksheet · Government and citizenship
Leaders and Their Jobs
Match 7 government leaders, from the mayor and the governor to the Vice President, a senator and a judge, to what they do.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–4
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Government and citizenship, Rules and laws, Voting, Rights and responsibilities
What kids do
“Draw a line from each leader to the job they do.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Leads the whole country
- Makes laws for the country (2 from each state)
- Decides cases in a court
- Leads the Senate and takes over if the
- President cannot serve
- Makes rules and plans for a city
- Who is the mayor or governor where you live?
Words on this sheet
Their jobMayorSenatorCity councilmemberJudge
Teacher tip
Find the names of your local leaders.
How to use it
- Hold a real class vote on something small.
- Read the sheet together, since the vocabulary is new.
- Use finished sheets for a quick gallery walk or a partner share.
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
Hold a mock election for a class decision.
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 2–4
How an Election Works
Put the 6 steps of an election in order, from candidates sharing their ideas to the winner taking office, and learn when we vote for President.
Grades 2–5
Run for Class President
A campaign planning page: kids design a poster, write a slogan and list 3 realistic promises, then explain why classmates should vote for them.
Grades 2–5
Government Word Search
A 12 by 12 word search of government and citizenship words: Congress, Senate, President, court, law, vote, mayor, governor, citizen and more.
Free for teachers
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