Reading Adventure Pack: Government

Go on a reading adventure to learn all about our government! Teachers can support reading together at home with our reading adventure packs — designed to encourage hands-on fun and learning centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books. (Recommended level: second orthird grade)

Explore the government!

When packing for this reading adventure about our government we suggest you include Madame President by Lane Smith and How the U.S. Government Works by Syl Sobel. In Madame President a little girl does what all kids do at some point — imagines that she is the President of the United States — and cleverly introduces readers to the duties of the President. How the U.S. Government Works introduces the powers and responsibilities of all the branches of government and covers the basics of our federal system.

Download the PDF in English

Download the PDF in Spanish

Get the books

The featured books were chosen for their quality and availability in most school and public libraries. For other book suggestions, check out the bookmark in the PDF.

Madam President

Lane Smith

Age Level:

6-9

Genre:

Fiction

This book explains the federal system as it works today, more than 200 years after the framers of the Constitution brought it into existence. Covered here are the Legislative body, composed of Senate and House Representatives, the Executive branch, headed by the President and consisting of Cabinet members and their agencies, and the Judicial branch, headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and extending to federal courts throughout the nation. Young readers learn how officials are elected or appointed and how government agencies work for the people’s benefit. A complex process is explained in interesting terms that young readers can comprehend.

How the U.S. Government Works

Syl Sobel

Age Level:

9-12

Genre:

Nonfiction

What’s in the reading adventure pack?

Parent information sheet with an introductory note that teachers can personalize, instructions about how to use the packet, and tips for sharing fiction and nonfiction books with children
Two books: one fiction and one nonfiction, selected by Reading Rockets for high quality and wide availability in school libraries
Creativity Activity: a hands-on craft project
Imagination Activity: encourages imaginative play, writing, or drawing
Get Real Activity: focuses on real-world experiences for parent and child
Bookmark: lists the featured titles and alternative titles
Parent survey

While designed as a school-to-home project, the Reading Rockets reading adventure packs are also great for summer programs, after-school programs, and home-schoolers.

Interested in more reading adventures?

Browse our full library of Reading Adventure Packs. And for additional information, read the article, Reading Adventure Packs: A School-to-Home Project.

About the Author

Rachael Walker has more than 30 years of experience in bringing organizations together to promote children’s literacy, beginning her career at Reading Is Fundamental. Rachael leads content creation for NEA’s Read Across America program, serves on the Advisory Board of The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, and hosts the Book Life blog on Reading Rockets. She has created educator materials for Random House Children’s Books, Disney, Algonquin Young Readers, and other publishers to help boost student engagement with books. Rachael was a literacy advisor for the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn initiative and also served as the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.

Reprints

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