Monica Richardson & Mandy Rinker

ED608 Fall 2001

The Three Branches of Government

5th Grade Lesson Plan

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Objective(s)Materials NeededWeb Site(s)Student ActivitiesLesson

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.

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

Web Sites http://home.earthlink.net/~schuessler/Class_P

rojects/3_Branches_of_Government.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Welcome.html

http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/abtcong.html

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.Senate.gov/

http://www.uscourts.gov/

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

Lesson Introduction

Factory – Government ComparisonUsing 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.

Lesson Background

School House Rock VideoStudents 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.

Lesson Overview

PowerPoint Presentation(see as follows…)

BRANCHESBRANCHESOFOF

GOVERNMENGOVERNMENTT

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?

Why three branches?

Limitation of Powers –

Separation of Powers –

Checks & Balances –

Reduce Control

Divide Control

Share Control

Branches of Government

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

Senate Senators/2 per state House of RepresentativesRepresentatives/based on population

Originate a bill, get a majority vote from all of Congress, get the President to approve – bill becomes a law

Legislative Branch

Congress

Responsible for making laws

Elected and serves for no more than two consecutive 4-year terms, appoints members of the President’s cabinet

Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, deals with other countries, veto power

Executive Executive BranchBranch

The President

Responsible for enforcing laws

Judicial Judicial BranchBranch

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

ReviewBranches of Government

Legislative Branch

Congress makes laws

Executive Branch

The President enforces laws

Judicial Branch

The Supreme Court

interprets laws

Lesson Small Group ActivityChecks & Balances Chart

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

Lesson Center ActivityMeet 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.

Lesson Center ActivityLawmaker 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.

Lesson Center ActivityJeopardy Game

Students will play this game using vocabulary from the unit,

definitions missed by students are to be written out.

Lesson Center ActivityTechnology Center

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

Lesson Center ActivityGuided Reading

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

Now you tell me… How does our

Government work?