Monica Richardson

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Monica Richardson Mandy Rinker

• ED608 Fall 2001

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The Three Branches of Government
5th Grade Lesson Plan
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• Objective(s)
• Materials Needed
• Web Site(s)
• Student Activities
• Lesson

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Objectives

• Understand the why the branches of government
  were formed.
• Learn the definition of each branch of
  government.
• Know the roles and responsibilities of each
  branch of government.
• Understand how the three branches interact.

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Materials Needed

• TV/VCR, tape School House Rock
• LCD Projector, Screen, PowerPoint Presentation-
  Branches of Government
• Overhead, Transparency-Branches of Government
• Handout Chart-Branches of Government
• Centers Jeopardy game Farmer Henson Matching
  tags/chart Branches of Government Guided Reading
  Packet

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Web Sites

• http//home.earthlink.net/schuessler/Class_Projec
  ts/3_Branches_of_Government.html
• http//www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Welcome.html
• http//lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/abtcong.ht
  ml
• http//www.house.gov/
• http//www.Senate.gov/
• http//www.uscourts.gov/

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Student Activities

• Factory - Government Comparison
• School House Rock Video
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Checks Balances Chart
• Meet Farmer Henson
• Lawmaker Journaling
• Jeopardy Game
• Technology Center
• Guided Reading

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Lesson Introduction

• Factory Government Comparison
• Using the overhead, the teacher shares with
  the class in a large group discussion the
  comparison between how a factory makes a widget
  to how the branches make a law.

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Lesson Background

• School House Rock Video
• Students view a short 3 minute video on how
  the branches of government operate. The video
  compares the branches of government to a
  three- ring circus.

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Lesson Overview

• PowerPoint Presentation
• (see as follows)

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BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
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Inquiring minds should want to know

• What are the three branches of government?
• Why do we need three branches?
• Who are the leaders of the three branches of
  government?
• What are the roles of the three branches of
  government?
• How do the branches work together?

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Why three branches?

• Limitation of Powers
• Separation of Powers
• Checks Balances

Reduce Control Divide Control Share
Control
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Branches of Government
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
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Legislative Branch

• Congress
• Responsible for making laws

Senate Senators/2 per state House of
Representatives Representatives/based on
population Originate a bill, get a majority
vote from all of Congress, get the President to
approve bill becomes a law
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Executive Branch

• Elected and serves for no more than two
  consecutive 4-year terms, appoints members of the
  Presidents cabinet
• Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, deals
  with other countries,
• veto power

• The President
• Responsible for enforcing laws

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Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court
• Responsible for interpreting the laws

Appointed by the President, highest court,
there are 9 total members, serve a lifetime
term Overrule decisions made by lower courts,
determine actions made by the President or
Congress unconstitutional
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ReviewBranches of Government
Executive Branch The President enforces laws
Judicial Branch The Supreme Court interprets
laws
Legislative Branch Congress makes laws
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Lesson Small Group Activity

• Checks Balances Chart
• In small groups using notes taken from the
  presentation, students will complete this chart
  covering the powers of the branches of
  government.

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Lesson Center Activity

• Meet Farmer Henson
• Students will read how a bill becomes a law
  and apply this process to putting 12 steps
  taken by Farmer Henson in order to complete the
  bill to law process.

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Lesson Center Activity

• Lawmaker Journaling
• Students will think of a law they feel needs
  to be added and write a letter to their
  congressman making this request, being sure to
  include facts to support their reasons why.

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Lesson Center Activity

• Jeopardy Game
• Students will play this game using vocabulary
  from the unit, definitions missed by students
  are to be written out.

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Lesson Center Activity

• Technology Center
• Students are to go the designated web site and
  following directions. Students will complete a
  drawing using Kid Pix.

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Lesson Center Activity

• Guided Reading
• Students will read orally through a booklet
  from this module and highlight the important
  information while discussing with the teacher
  ideas presented.

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Now you tell me How does our Government work?