Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this site is the U.S. Government Printing Office's educational online outreach for grades K to 12. The nonpartisan, text-heavy site provides tutorials and games on all branches of U.S. government, history, states, and symbols. It's informative, but amusing enough that kids will actually enjoy learning things. Parents and teachers may have to help younger kids sift through the lengthy information and read them only the most relevant parts.
Families can talk about why some of the historic documents posted on the site, such as the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation, are important. Families can also discuss how learning about the government can help kids and families be active citizens. How does knowing about the government help us make positive changes in our country?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Dana Villamagna
With a cartoon Ben Franklin as the guide, BEN'S GUIDE TO U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR KIDS isn't heavy on bells and whistles, but it's rich in information about the ins and outs of federal government and citizenship. The plain graphics, simple games, and lengthy text make this U.S. Government Printing Office-sponsored site a great place for students, parents, and teachers to go for information, but not necessarily for entertainment.
The nonpartisan site is easy to navigate and clearly organized by grade level (K to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 12) and there's a separate section for parents and teachers. One click on Ben's age-appropriate kite will bring you to links about historic documents, government symbols, the election process, and more. Explanations of how bills and laws are created, why the nation needs a government, and what government agencies do in the community are clear but dry and, therefore, may not wow most grade schoolers.
If your kid's tired of reading all the text, check out the games section, where kids can color, play word games, figure out mazes, or match states on a map either online or offline by printing them out. Some games repeat throughout the grade levels, and a few are too rudimentary to interest most kids older than 12.
One of the most useful things on this site is the list with links of all government-sponsored sites for kids. It points kids toward more specific information on just about anything in government from environmental protection and law enforcement to health and immigration.
Kids who want to keep on learning will also enjoy http://www.fbi.gov/fbikids.htm (the FBI's kid page) and SocialStudiesforKids.com.
Reviewed: 04/30/2007
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Educational ValueKids can find almost anything about U.S. government or a link to another appropriate site. |
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