PASS+Lesson+Plan

** Lesson Title: ** The Three Branches of Government/Checks and Balances ** Unit: ** Government ** Subject Areas: ** U.S. History ** Grade Level: ** 4th Grade ** Time Required: ** ** 1. **** PA State Standards ** 5.3.4.A: Identify the roles of the three branches of government. 5.3.4.B: Describe how the elected representative bodies function in making local and state laws.  ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NCSS Themes ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Individuals, Groups and Institutions & Power Authority and Governance <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Big Ideas ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Active citizens understand the workings of government and use that knowledge for the common good. <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Essential Questions ** <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What are the three branches of government and their purposes? <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why is it important as a citizen to understand the three branches of government and their purposes? <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Learning Objectives ** <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. After reviewing and learning about the three different branches of government, the students will be able to reenact the passing of a bill process in each branch of government working in small groups. <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. After the unit on the three branches of government is over, the students will be able to independently write a paragraph essay describing which branch of government they feel is most important and why (no correct answer). <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. The students will take an online quiz which will assess the students’ knowledge about the three branches of government. <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Concepts and Vocabularies ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Legislative <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Judicial <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Executive <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">President <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Congress <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Senate <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">House of Representatives <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Supreme Court <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bill <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Veto <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Checks and Balances <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Materials ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cutout of White House, Congress, and Supreme Court <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cutouts of powers for each branch <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Computer/Internet for showing websites and quiz <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Instruction/Procedures/Activities ** ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Engagement  ** <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Show song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLQg7G3hkGY about the three branches of government <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During/After watching video record information onto board some of the characteristics of each branch <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Allow students to explore this website http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html <span style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have the students work in groups of 3 to complete a matching activity. The students will be given an image of the three branches of government as well as cutouts of “powers.” The students will work together to match which power goes with which branch of government. ** (Active) ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The students will work together in small groups to act out the process of passing a bill. Each student will represent a different branch of government in their group. ** (Integrative) ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The students will write a paragraph essay explaining which branch of government they feel is the most important. This argument must be backed with at least 5 pieces of factual information. ** (Challenging) ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">9. **** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Assessment ** <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Students will complete this short online quiz which will assess their basic knowledge about the three branches of government. The students are expected to receive a 12/15 on this quiz. <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Quiz: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/us-government-branches/quiz/2759.html <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #43413e; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Kristin Halmi **