Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Discovery, Problem Solving ,Web-

Based Field

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: To assess the Importance of

Government.

Term: 2 Unit Number # 1 -Government

and Title:

Duration: 35 mins. Week Number: 1

Lesson Number # 2 -Why is Government Necessary

and Title:

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) explain the reasons why Government exists.
2) outline the role and importance of Governments to a Society.
3) appreciate the need for Government to establish proper Civic
Responsibility and order in society.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) the concept of why government is considered to be a legal and
political institution.
2) the definition of the term Government.
3) the difference between Formal and Informal Government.

Important Points
1) Government is a necessity to man. It is necessary to regulate
economy, provide for establishing law and order provide public
services without it a country would be in chaos.
2) The necessity of Government is seen in family life where there are
leaders and together family members make decisions.
3) Every society has an organizational principle with designated
authority figures and clearly defined roles and obligations
necessary to prevent chaos and anarchy in a country.
4) When people live together in groups rules must be established to
what people can do.
5) Society realizes that all people cannot spend all their time making
and enforcing rules.

Teacher Instructional Material 1

 6) It is a government in a country that is responsible for giving power
and organizing and making important rules and laws.
7) Government is important to dispense justice, settle disputes,
preservation of the state and also to see to the financial needs of
the country by tax collection to meet the cost of providing for the
public service for the society.
8) Government is also necessary for the existence of peace in the
society.
9) Rules help us to live safely and peacefully and enable a country to
develop.
10) A country that does not have rules or where people do not respect
the rules, become a place of chaos and anarchy.

Key Terms

Anarchy Chaos Cohesion

Politics Rights Sanction

Social Cohesion Social Control

Challenge Areas
The Teacher should prepare for this lesson by taking the students on a
visit/field trip to their local Tax Office or Police Station. The
worksheet should be printed by the teacher and given to all the
students. On the field trip the teacher should ensure that the students
ask the questions and write important answers for the class
presentation.

Equipment/Materials Needed
Multi- media, projector, computers, Internet- Connectivity.

Note to Teacher
This lesson will require the teacher to plan a field trip at least two
weeks before the lesson. The teacher should also call and write to the
various institutions about the purpose of the visit and give due notice
so that the institution can carry out the necessary preparations. The
administration and parents should be informed and permission granted
by both. The letters sent to parents should have the Schools approval
and should be signed by the Teacher in-charge.

Teacher Instructional Material 2

Teachers Lesson Notes

Teacher Instructional Material 3

 Introduction
1) Introductory Activity
What happens when people use power to do exactly as they
please?
Notes
a. Allow students to view a video presentation at the link
The teacher
should explain to below and then ask students to answer the questions
the students what following .
is meant by http://www.miniclip.com/sketch-
trespassing.
star/en/animation/9813375/the-importanace-of-rules

i. What keeps people from doing just as they wish in a

society?
Expected Answer: When people live together in a
society, Governments make rules and impose
sanctions that limit what they can do.

Body of Lesson
1) Why is government necessary to a society?

a. Instruct students to look at the pictures below which are

related to the dialogue that follows. Print the case study
below and allow students time to read it.

i. Allow students to dramatize the roles of the

different characters.

Figure 2.1: Breaking the law!

Teacher Instructional Material 4

Box 2.1: Case Study - Breaking the law and the consequences!

Tom: Did you see those East Indian Mangoes on Mrs.

Brown tree. I am going to pick some.

John: I am not going over there. You can go; I will wait
right here for you. Remember, she has a bad dog.

Tom: I have a tin a mackerel in my bag. That will quiet the

mongrel.

John: If Mrs. Brown catch you she will call the police.

(Tom opens the tin of mackerel and gives it to the dog.)

John: Careful what you doing.

Tom: I am going to jump over the fence now and then

climb the tree.

John: I will wait here.

Tom: I am going to pick these nice ones. You dont want

any?

Mrs. Brown: (Meanwhile, Mrs. Brown has called the police after
seeing Tom acting suspiciously. To herself in a
grumpy voice)
I hope those Police will come this time because I pay
my taxes and if not I will write to the Commissioner
and my Member of Parliament.

John: (John shouts) TOM, TOM! Babylon coming! Come

down quick!

Mrs. Brown: (In a very loud and angry voice) Well one of you
guys have finally reached! Arrest this rascal and get
him off my property, thank you!

(Tom comes down the tree trembling and the police take the
mangoes from him.)

Police Officer: You are going down to the station with me and
your name will be placed in our books and your
parents will be called.

Teacher Instructional Material 5

 Tom: Bwoy, now I know that there are consequences for
breaking rules!

b. Now use the questions below to help students understand

why government is necessary in societies. Have students
form groups of threes and answer the following questions
based on the case study in Box 2.1. Give guidance where
necessary.

i. What laws did Tom break?

ii. What do you think would likely happen if Tom had
not been caught?
iii. What connection did Mrs. Brown make between
paying taxes and the police answering her call?
iv. What roles of government are shown in this case
study?
v. What do you think will happen to Tom?
vi. What lesson did Tom learn from this experience?
vii. Was John a good friend? Why do you say so?
viii. What role do you think the Member of Parliament
could play in assisting Mrs. Brown?
Expected responses
i. He was trespassing on private property and
stealing.
ii. He would continue to trespass on peoples
property.
iii. That the Police Officers are given a salary as
result of Tax collections.
iv. Tax collection and enforcing the law.
v. He will be given a warning at the police station
and his parents informed.
vi. That he should not trespass and obey the rules
of the society.
vii. Yes, because John encouraged Tom not to go on
Mrs. Brown property to steal the mangoes. He
also told him that the Police were coming.
viii. The Member of Parliament should make
representation for so that Mrs. Brown can access
the relevant services.

c. Based on the case study above, which part can you identify
the following words with? Ask students to remain in their
groups. Project on the board the following words:

Anarchy

Teacher Instructional Material 6

 Chaos
Order
Authority

Expected answers: Anarchy and Chaos This action was

displayed when Tom decided to steal from Mrs. Brown.

Authority and Order This was displayed with the arrival of

the Police Officer and the removal Tom from Mrs. Brown
property.

i. The discussion should be centered on Anarchy and

Chaos.
ii. Teacher will then lead discussion as to why certain
words were selected.
iii. Teacher will then direct students to go to the
following link to ensure that they understand the
terms used above. http://www.brainyquote.com/

This should help to strengthen students understanding of

the terms stated above.

2) What are some roles of government?

a. The teacher will now put students in groups and remind

them of the field trip. Then in groups they will present their
Challenge findings based on the worksheet that was done at Police
You Station or Tax Office.
The teacher should
allow students to
add additional i. Ask students to state similarities between the roles
questions to the of Government in the case study (Box 2.1) and their
worksheet for the
field trip.
visit/field trip to Police Station and Tax Office.
Expected answers:

1. Collecting taxes
2. Providing Security
3. Obeying the law
4. Providing Representation

3) How are the roles of Government carried out in your

community?
a. Figure 2.2 should be projected on the board using the
Multi-media projector.

Teacher Instructional Material 7

 i. The teacher should then ask students how these
roles are carried out by Government in their
communities.
Expected answers:
1. Keeping the peace/Protection Police Officers
2. Enforcing Roles Police Officers
3. Choosing Leaders Members of the Community
4. Making Decisions Members of Parliament
5. Managing Resources Members of Parliament/
Community Leaders.

Figure 2.2: Showing the Roles of Government

Managing Making
resources decisions Making
rules

Choosing
leaders
Roles of Enforcin
Government g rules

Keeping Protection
the peace

Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Teacher should divide the class into two groups in order participate
in a debate. Under the moot Government is not necessary The
two groups should select two speakers to represent them. One
group should be supporting the motto saying yes government is
necessary while the other group will be going against the motto
stating why government is not necessary.

Teacher Instructional Material 8

Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Teacher should allow students write a letter in groups of three to
the editor of a local news paper about why they consider
government to be necessary. The students should also suggest how
they think government can improve their role in the community.

Glossary of Terms

This is a state or society where there is little or

Anarchy no law and supreme power and there is usually a
state of political confusion.
The confused, unorganized condition before the
Chaos creation of distinct and orderly condition.
Holding a homogeneous body or organization
Cohesion together.

Rights The state of being entitled to a privilege or

immunity or authority to act.

Sanctions These are punishments which a group or society

uses in order to get its members to obey its rules.

Social Control This is a mechanism used to regulate individuals,

groups and organizational behavior, and is useful
to prevent chaos.

Social Cohesion Social Cohesion is all about sticking together as

a society by positive leadership with authority,
control, cooperation, commitment and loyalty.
This has to do with the regulation and
Politics government of a nation or state, the preservation
of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the defense of
its existence and rights against foreign control.
The development of its resources, and the
protection of its citizens in their rights.

CSEC Questions
Government is necessary for social cohesiveness and Social
Control
1) What is meant by the term Social Control? 2 marks

Teacher Instructional Material 9

2) Describe one reason why every society must have Sanctions
3 marks

3) Give two reasons why it is necessary to have government in the

society 4 marks
4) Suggest two ways in which government role can be improved in
your community 6 marks

5) Explain why each of the ways suggested will be successful

6 marks

Total 20 marks

Recommended Materials
http://www.brainyquote.com/
www.dictionary.com
http://www.miniclip.com/sketch-star/en/animation/9813375/the-
importanace-of-rules
Bibliography
Bell-Coates, L., Carman, L., Dixon, Oliver,B., (2008) Growing
Together Social Studies for Grade 8. United Kingdom:
Nelson Thornes Ltd.

Ramsawak,R., Umraw,R.,(2001) Modules in Social Studies with SBA

Guide A CXC Questions Trinidad:Caribbean Educational
Publishers.

The Gleaners Youthlink (2009) Sandy, M., (2012) Carlong Social

Studies Essentials for CSEC Jamaica: Carlong Publishers
(Caribbean) Ltd.

Brathwaite,S., Reynolds,P., The Caribbean Examination Council

Social Studies CSEC Barbados

Figure 2.1
Retrieved from google.com images on August 11,
2012http://tinyurl.com/c69jjcs mango
http://tinyurl.com/cwoqpc6 boy

Teacher Instructional Material 10

 Worksheet for Field Trip

Name:
Form:
Date:

1. Are signs properly situated to identify the buildings you are

visiting? __________________________________________
2. Identify the organization ______________________________
3. Where is the building located in the community?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

4. What is your position in the organization?_________________

5. What are your duties on a daily basis? ____________________
6. How do you think these duties are necessary to the
development of your country?

Teacher Instructional Material 11

 ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

7. Name the role (s) of Government that this organization is

carrying out
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Teacher Instructional Material 12