Activity Overview
In this activity, students will apply concepts about government and create their own country. Students will have to select a form of government and explain the reasoning behind their decision - why do they think that this is the perfect type of government for their country? You can tailor this assignment to meet the needs of your class, but are encouraged to offer numerous choices to students. This storyboard can serve as the summative assignment for the unit and can be presented for the rest of the class, either individually, or as part of a class-wide country fair where each country is on display simultaneously.
Possible Create-A-Country Checklist Items:
- Name of Country
- Flag
- Type of Government
- Unique Laws
- Map
Extended Activity
Students should create a storyboard that reflects the day-to-day life of a citizen in their country. Students can elaborate on certain cultural practices, or how the government impacts their lives. Students may present their storyboards to the class, and the class can decide which country sounds most appealing to them.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a country, identifying the type of government and any unique laws along with a flag & map.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the center of the spider map, identify the name of your country.
- In one cell, create a flag and explain the symbolism of it.
- In a second cell, identify the type of government you selected and why.
- In a third cell, identify any unique laws that pertain to this country.
- In the fourth cell, create a map of the country.
- Create any illustrations using appropriate scenes, characters, items, or textables.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will apply concepts about government and create their own country. Students will have to select a form of government and explain the reasoning behind their decision - why do they think that this is the perfect type of government for their country? You can tailor this assignment to meet the needs of your class, but are encouraged to offer numerous choices to students. This storyboard can serve as the summative assignment for the unit and can be presented for the rest of the class, either individually, or as part of a class-wide country fair where each country is on display simultaneously.
Possible Create-A-Country Checklist Items:
- Name of Country
- Flag
- Type of Government
- Unique Laws
- Map
Extended Activity
Students should create a storyboard that reflects the day-to-day life of a citizen in their country. Students can elaborate on certain cultural practices, or how the government impacts their lives. Students may present their storyboards to the class, and the class can decide which country sounds most appealing to them.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a country, identifying the type of government and any unique laws along with a flag & map.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the center of the spider map, identify the name of your country.
- In one cell, create a flag and explain the symbolism of it.
- In a second cell, identify the type of government you selected and why.
- In a third cell, identify any unique laws that pertain to this country.
- In the fourth cell, create a map of the country.
- Create any illustrations using appropriate scenes, characters, items, or textables.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Create a Country Storyboard
How to Facilitate Thoughtful Peer Feedback on Country Storyboards
Encourage students to provide constructive feedback on each other's storyboards to deepen understanding and foster collaboration. Peer review helps students reflect on their own work and learn from others.
Set clear feedback guidelines
Give students specific questions or criteria to use when reviewing a classmate's storyboard, such as clarity of government explanation or creativity in laws. This ensures feedback stays focused and helpful.
Model effective feedback
Demonstrate how to give positive, specific, and actionable comments by reviewing a sample storyboard together. Students learn best when they see examples of what quality feedback looks like.
Organize structured peer review sessions
Pair students or create small groups and schedule time for them to exchange storyboards and fill out feedback forms. Structured sessions keep the process organized and ensure every student gets input.
Guide reflection and revision
Have students review the feedback they received and choose at least one suggestion to revise or expand their storyboard. Reflection builds self-assessment skills and strengthens final projects.
Frequently Asked Questions about Create a Country Storyboard
How do I guide students to create their own country storyboard for a government lesson?
To guide students in creating a country storyboard, have them select a government type, design a flag with symbolism, outline unique laws, and draw a map. Encourage them to explain their choices and present their work to the class for deeper engagement.
What are some creative checklist items for a 'Create a Country' classroom project?
Creative checklist items include country name, flag design with explanations, government type with reasons, unique laws, and a map. You can also ask for cultural practices or a storyboard of daily life.
What is the best way to explain different types of government to middle schoolers?
The best approach is to use simple definitions, real-world examples, and compare how decisions are made in each system. Visual aids like storyboards or diagrams can help students grasp differences between democracies, monarchies, dictatorships, and more.
How can students incorporate cultural elements into their create-a-country project?
Students can add cultural elements by describing daily life, traditions, holidays, foods, or typical activities in their country. This adds depth and makes the country storyboard more engaging and realistic.
Why is creating a country storyboard an effective social studies assignment?
Creating a country storyboard is effective because it encourages critical thinking, creativity, and application of government concepts. Students synthesize knowledge by making choices and justifying them, deepening understanding through hands-on learning.
More Storyboard That Activities
Introduction to Government
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
