How To Build Your

Own Country

Have you ever wanted to just be ‘the boss’? To make all the decisions, to say how things ought to be run? Of course you have! Now is

your big chance…

Soon you will be getting your license to ‘drive the earth’. You will be old enough to start

making the decisions that will affect other’s lives on the earth that you are sharing with them. Why don’t we practice right now? If you could create the perfect place to live,

what would it look like? What would it be like to live there?

Here is your opportunity to Create-a-Country!

We’ve been talking this year about how governments work. Your assignment is

to build a country from scratch, using your imagination and the

guidelines on the following pages.

Be creative and have fun!

Step 1

Stake Out Your Identity

Naming Your CountryResearch the origins of other countries

names. Explore the origin of your own country

name. Then brainstorm a name for your classroom “Micro-nation”.

Think about what you want the name to say about your “Micro-nation”.

Use one of these “official”prefixes

Independent Republic of …

United Federation of…

Dominion of …Kingdom of …Union of …

Queendom of …Empire of …Sovereign State

of …People’s Republic

of…United States of …

Then pick a fitting description to add to it

Design A Flag & Choose a Motto

Choose an emblem that best represents your classroom Micro-

nation. Many countries have a motto that consists of just three words. Come up with three words that sum up your

hopes for your Micro-nation.

Pick a Background or create your own, but keep it simple

Add a decorative motif, or make your own and pick some

colors

Map it out!Create a map of your country, decide how large or small it should be. Does it have a

coastline? Does it border another country? (Maybe a real one or

another group’s country). Is your country an island? Where in the

world is it located?

Make it RealisticDecide on placement of cities and townsGive it varied terrain: mountains, valleys,

swamps, beaches, flatlands, farmlands, tropics, desert, etc…

Where is the capital? Decide on size, make it comparable to a real

country, how many square miles is it?

Use your Map SkillsUse the skills you learned from our globe

project

Make a LegendIn the bottom corner give it a legend for the

terrain, and a compass rose

Step 2

Run the country

Set up a Government

Choose which kind of government your country will have (oligarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, democracy, etc.)

Who will lead your country?How will they stay in power?

Write a ConstitutionPrinciples of the countryStatement about

individual’s rightsRole of constitution as lawParts of governmentHow parts work togetherA way to change

constitution in the future

Making the Laws

Make some laws that will protect your citizens, their freedom, and their property

How will laws be enforced?Who decides what laws go into effect?

Serving the Citizen’s needs

JobsHealth CareClean environmentRoads, bridges, transportationDefense (army, navy, air force)EducationJustice System

Work together with your group on these four

elements.Each piece should be about one - two pages long, make

it visually interesting with photographs, etc.

Each person will be creating one major element:

Set Up GovernmentWrite a ConstitutionMake The LawsServe the Citizens

The Economy

Economy is the production, distribution, and exchange of goods & services

Work with your group to create a document explaining how your country makes money, and what it does with that money to serve the citizens

Explain what your currency is, and how it works

Taxes!

Most countries use citizen’s money to help pay for services.

Decide if you want to tax people’s earnings (income tax) or things they buy (sales tax). Or both.

What do these taxes pay for?

Holidays

You’ve worked hard up until now: take a break

What kinds of holidays will you have, how often will you celebrate them?

Create a document where you lay out some festivities and why you celebrate them

Research other holidays for inspiration

Step 3

Put it all

together

Your finished Product will have:

A cover representing your country’s flagAll four major documents, well-written

and consistent with one anotherPictures, maps, texture to give a visual

representation of your landscapeA few pages of extras: (economy,

taxes, holidays, etc)

Presenting

Be prepared to present your country to a variety of different audiences:

(classrooms, teachers, administrators, other grades,

etc)

PresentingEach group member should be

prepared to answer a variety of questions.

Make sure you can explain your ideas and why they would work in a realistic world

Have fun with it and be comfortable

You Rule!So, yes, you can build your own country even if it’s just among

friends & classmates.

Remember: be good to your people, they are your greatest

asset. If you are mean or unfair to your citizens they could revolt and

form their own government.

Good luck!