Test your knowledge of U.S. History and Government with the naturalization self test from The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services website. Click here to see how much you know!

For a free printable copy of this pledge of allegiance poster, visit: teacherspayteachers.com

This is a great time of year to think about showing love and support to those who are fighting for our country. Adopt a US Soldier gives you the choice of 2 different ways to support the deployed troops.  You can adopt a single soldier and make a long-term commitment sending letters, cards, and care packages to your soldier for the length of their deployment, or you can sign up for Project Frontlines for a one-time or short-term commitment.  Both programs will help you show your support for deployed troops that will appreciate your support more than you can imagine.

Visit adoptaussoldier.org to find out more.

This is a great time of year to think about showing love and support to those who are fighting for our country. Adopt a US Soldier gives you the choice of 2 different ways to support the deployed troops.  You can adopt a single soldier and make a long-term commitment sending letters, cards, and care packages to your soldier for the length of their deployment, or you can sign up for Project Frontlines for a one-time or short-term commitment.  Both programs will help you show your support for deployed troops that will appreciate your support more than you can imagine.

Visit adoptaussoldier.org to find out more.

Part of being an informed citizen is understanding the beginnings of our great nation and its traditions. Visit: plimoth.org for an interactive learning experience about the first Thanksgiving.

With the presidential election coming up, it's a great time to help your kids understand the election process, including the electoral college. Here's a great book that will help smaller children get a grasp of it:

 

 

Also, scholastic.com gives a little summary of the whole process: 

 

 

The citizens of the United States do not elect their president directly. When Americans cast their vote for a presidential candidate, they are really voting for an elector--a delegate pledged to vote for that same candidate. There are 538 such electors chosen in every presidential election. As a group they are known as the electoral college.

How the Electoral College Works 

Each state has as many electors as it has members in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives combined. The electoral college thus includes 535 electors from the states, one for each of the 435 members of the House plus one for each of the 100 senators. Another three electors represent the District of Columbia, for a total of 538.

According to the U.S. Constitution, state legislators decide how electors will be chosen in their states. First, each political party in a state nominates a slate (list) of electors. These electors are usually pledged to support the party's nominee for president and vice president. In some states, electors are legally required to vote for their candidate.

Presidential elections take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years. On that day voters throughout the nation go to the polls to choose the electors in their states. In many states the names of the electors do not even appear on the ballot. The voters see only the names of the candidates for president and vice president. Nevertheless, voters who favor the Republican (or Democratic) candidate for president actually vote for the Republican (or Democratic) electors in their state. This voting of the people is called the popular vote.

In 48 of the 50 states, the candidate who receives the most popular votes wins all that state's electoral votes. In Maine and Nebraska, the state's electoral votes can be divided among the candidates. To be elected president, a candidate needs a majority of all the electoral votes in the country. That is one-half of the total number of votes plus one, or 270.

In most presidential elections, the winner is known by the morning following election day. However, election results do not become official until weeks afterward. The winning electors meet in their state capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. There they vote for president and vice president. They send the sealed results to Washington. On January 6, the results are read in the presence of the entire Congress. The winner becomes official. Then, on January 20, the president-elect takes the oath of office as president of the United States.

The Democracy Project at pbskids.org is a fun way for kids to learn all about the upcoming presidential election, the candidates, and our government. You can even print out presidential posters, including one you can make of yourself!

(Taken from: kidsdiscover.com) 

Here's a very cute set of social studies vocabulary cards covering citizenship and other government topics.They can be used for a word wall, a memory game, or anything you want to use them for! Just go to firstiefriends.blogspot.com and click on the picture to download.