A Study of the 3 Branches of U.S. Government
Objective
Big Idea
Narrative
Introduction
As co-coordinator of our school's annual Career Day, it is very important for me to instill in my scholars the notion that they can be and do whatever they desire in life - the sky is the limit! This is one reason I was very excited to assign them the "So You Want to be President?" Research Project. We started this lesson by watching a short Brainpop video about the 3 branches of U.S. government and taking the quiz afterwards. (Teacher reviews quiz whole group and students answer using sign language - a, b, c, or d.) (Click here to watch video.)
Independent Work
Students created a 3 column chart to detail the roles and responsibilities of each branch of the U.S. government (see attached handout). Early finishers, worked on independent research for their research project using library books I checked out on various U.S. Presidents, their social studies book, and the Internet.
Closure
To close the lesson, we go around the room and each scholar shares one fact they have learned thus far about the 3 branches of government or the U.S. President they are researching.
