The American Government Activity for Fourth Grade covers the following Standards and Learning Expectations of the Tennessee State Curriculum:

Content Standard 1: Students will understand and be able to explain the purposes and structure of governments with an emphasis on constitutional governments.

To achieve this standard, the learner will:

ü Recognize who makes the laws in the community.

ü Know the function and responsibilities of local governments.

ü Explain why governments were formed at the local, state, and national levels.

ü Distinguish the relationship of local governments to the state and nation.

 Here are the answers to the questions posted on the Thomas Intermediate School American Government Activity Page.

WHITE HOUSE

1. What is the street address of the White House? 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C.
2. Who picked the site for the White House? George Washington
3. Who was the first president to live in the White House? John Adams
4. If you add the number of flours (6), rooms (132), bathrooms (32), windows (147), doors (412), chimneys (12), elevators (3), and staircases (7) in the White House together, what is the sum? 751
5. What are some of the names the White House was called before its present name? President's Palace, President's House, Executive Mansion
6. Where is the Christmas tree placed? In the Blue Room
7. What did President Theodore Roosevelt hang above the fireplace in the State Dining Room? Moose head
8. What is the largest room in the White House? East Room
9. Where does the President conduct the business of the country? Oval Office

CAPITOL BUILDING

1. How was the Old Senate Chamber heated? 4 fireplaces and 2 Franklin stoves
2. Who serves as President of the Senate? Where does he sit? Vice President, the central dais of the Senate Chamber
3. What is the current gavel made of? Who presented it to the US? Ivory, government of India
4. Although Samuel Morse painted watercolors of the Old House Chamber, he was unable to sell them. He decided to work on Science instead. What is he famous for inventing? the telegraph
5. Each state was asked to pick two people to be represented in the National Statuary Hall. What two people represent our state? John Sevier and Andrew Jackson
6. Who is said to be the most prominent Speaker of the House? How is the Speaker elected? Who is the Speaker of the House today? Henry Clay, elected by the Members of the House, John Dennis Hastart
7. When the Senate and House have to meet together, where do they meet? the House Chamber

SUPREME COURT

List the nine Justices of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist

Justice John Paul Stevens

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Antonin Scalia

Justice Anthony Kennedy

Justice David H. Souter

Justice Clarence Thomas

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Justice Stephen G. Breyer

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

I pledge allegiance

to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the Republic

for which it stands,

one Nation under God,

indivisible, with liberty

and justice for all.

1. Who wrote the pledge? Reverend Francis Bellamy
2. When was it written? 1892
3. Why was it written? for use at the dedication of the World's Fair Grounds in Chicago
4. When did Congress officially make it the pledge for our country? 1945

THE GREAT SEAL OF AMERICA

1. How many stars are on the Great Seal? What do they stand for? thirteen, original thirteen colonies
2. How many arrows is the eagle holding? What do they represent? thirteen, the power of war
3. What language is "E pluribus unum" written in? What does it mean? Latin, "Out of Many, One"

THE BALD EAGLE

1. In what year was the bald eagle placed on the Great Seal? 1782
2. List three other places the bald eagle appears as a symbol of our country. President's flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia, and one-dollar bills
3. What animal did Benjamin Franklin want chosen as the country's symbol? Turkey