Arizona’s Government

Arizona’s Government – Reading Passages & Activities for Grade 3

Help your students discover how government works in Arizona! This no-prep, 8-page packet pairs short, kid-friendly reading passages with quick activities built for Arizona’s Grade 3 History and Social Science Standards (3.C1.1, 3.C3.1, 3.C3.2).

What’s Inside

• 6 illustrated reading pages, each with a short passage and 2 quick activities:
  • What Is Government? – laws, services, and the common good
  • The Arizona Constitution – the state’s written plan, 1910–1912
  • Arizona’s Three Branches – Legislature, governor, and courts
  • Local Government – mayors, councils, counties, services, and taxes
  • Tribal Governments – Arizona’s 22 tribal nations and how they govern
  • Civic Virtues: Being a Good Citizen – honesty, respect, and helping out
• Three Branches Sort – a graphic organizer where students sort words under Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
• Complete answer key, including the sort answers in an easy-to-check table

How Teachers Can Use It

Each page takes just 5–10 minutes, making this packet perfect for morning work, social studies centers, small groups, homework, or sub plans. Activities stay at the circle, match, and sort level, so third graders can work independently while still reading closely. Bolded vocabulary in every passage supports academic language, and the true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and matching formats double as quick comprehension checks.

Why You’ll Love It

• Aligned to Arizona’s Grade 3 civics standards and CCSS RI.3.1, RI.3.4
• Covers state, local, AND tribal governments in one resource
• Prints beautifully in black and white – no color ink needed
• Zero prep: just print and teach

Pair it with our other Reading in the States: Arizona packets for a complete Arizona studies unit!