Local and State Government in Florida

Help your fourth graders tell the difference between local and state government in Florida! In this one-page worksheet, students read a short passage, sort six jobs into a Local or State table, then choose who should help in three real-life scenarios.

The passage explains that state government serves all of Florida. The Florida Legislature makes laws for the whole state, the governor leads the state, and state government runs things like state highways and driver's licenses. Local government serves one county or city. Students learn that Florida has 67 counties, that each county has elected leaders called the county commission, and that many cities have a mayor and a city council. Local leaders make local laws called ordinances, and local government runs parks, libraries, and trash pickup. In the sorting activity, each column has three boxes, so students know how many letters go in each one. The scenario activity asks students to pick the right leader for a broken park swing, a new law for all Florida schools, and a missing stop sign. Everything students need to answer is right on the page, and the sheet is written to Florida benchmark SS.4.CG.3.2.

What's inside:

• A short passage with key words in bold
• A Local or State sorting table with 6 items
• 3 "Who should help?" scenarios with 3 choices each
• A visual answer key with every answer marked in red

How teachers use it:

• As a quick check after a local and state government lesson
• For morning work, centers, or an exit ticket
• As homework or sub plans, with no prep needed

It takes about 5 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. This worksheet is part of our Reading in Civics series for grade 4.