Teaching article
Three levels of government, seen through everyday services
Use public-service examples, with an explicit space for shared responsibilities and uncertain cases.
A library, a road and a hospital make useful starting pictures, but they are not self-explanatory answers. Before children sort them, check who actually provides or funds the particular service pictured.
Use a service question with a checked answer rather than assigning powers from a familiar building's name. Responsibilities can involve more than one level.
Introductory categories are not complete funding maps.
Leave room for more than one answer
To hand: Three headings and four service pictures.
- Propose a level for each service.
- Give one clue supporting the choice.
- Check a relevant official service page.
A passport is a useful federal example; a local facility may involve council delivery and funding from other levels.
Which example still needs a local source? Reduce the sort to two well-chosen services.
Resources
- Who Does What? Government Power Match — Use the responsibility matching activity for a separate checked-service comparison.
Further reading
- Parliamentary Education Office — classroom activities
- Australian Electoral Commission — Democracy Rules
Read next
- When more than one government looks after a service
- A two-option classroom vote: count first, then check the majority
- A clear petition asks for one identifiable change
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