A guide for using our resources

Children will explain how mayors are elected and describe the jobs they do.

Social Studies Focus: government

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1, RI.1.5, RF.1.3, RL.1.1, L.1.1, W.1.1

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• In this hilarious book, a penguin becomes mayor and proposes some very silly legislation. The townspeople have a feeling his ideas won’t work out, but do they dare stand up to the mayor?

• Together, find and circle the contraction doesn’t in the article each time it appears.
• What does the contraction mean? Invite children to read each sentence, replacing doesn’t with does not.

Skill: writing

Materials: large paper or poster board, markers, crayons, paint

• Have each child choose their favorite animal and nominate it for mayor by creating a campaign poster!
• Tell children that their poster should include a picture of their animal and three great qualities it possesses. Does their animal help people or other animals? Is their animal smart?
• Hang the posters in the classroom. If you’d like, you can have an election!