GLE-CivK
COLORADO MODEL CONTENT
STANDARDS FOR CIVICS
Kindergarten
Grade Level Expectations
Standard 1:
Students understand the purposes of government, and the basic
constitutional principles of the United States republican form of
government.
Kindergarten students will:
1.1 Define “constitution”, “government” and “democracy”; recognize that family
members make and enforce rules and settle disputes
1.2 Give an example of people using power and authority like school crossing guards and teachers
1.3 Tell about the U.S. Constitution and the first ten amendments (Bill of Rights)
1.4 Identify great leaders and symbols of political culture—George Washington,
Betsy Ross, Thomas Jefferson, American flag, Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore
and the White House
1.5 Make and post a constitution of class rules, rights and responsibilities
Standard 2:
Students know the structure and function of local, state, and national government and how citizen involvement shapes public policy.
Kindergarten students will:
2.1 Identify school rules about what kindergarteners can and cannot do, e.g.: using the crosswalk, safety rules, voting on decisions
2.2 Name people who have authority to enforce rules in the school, e.g.: teachers, administrators, secretaries, custodians, etc.
2.3 Identify people and groups of people who apply rules, e.g.: police, judges,
legislators, Governor, current U.S. President
2.4 Tell how students monitor and influence school rules by getting informed and
discussing the issues
Standard 3:
Students know the political relationship of the United States and its citizens to other nations and to world affairs.
Kindergarten students will:
3.1 Locate the U.S., Canada and Mexico (neighbors) on a globe and map
3.2 Locate on a globe or map the nation from which their family originally came
3.3 Define “international” and give an example of a group or organization that works in many countries, e.g.: International Red Cross
Standard 4:
Students understand how citizens exercise the rules, rights and
responsibilities of participation in civic life at all levels – local, state, and national.
Kindergarten students will:
4.1 Define “citizen” and explain how students are citizens in a school, community,
state and country
4.2 Identify a family decision needing to be made (where to go on a vacation), in
which all family members discuss the options and arrive at a decision
4.3 Tell what “freedom of speech” and “freedom of religion” mean
4.4 Identify important characteristics of a good citizen in the school (obeys rules,
helps others)