Introduction
- How is the United States Government structured?
- What are the three branches of the United Sates government?
- What is the main idea of the book D is for Democracy: A Citizen’s Alphabet by Elissa Grodin?
- What is the authors purpose and what do you understand by democracy?
image source: Three Branches of Government for Kids and Teachers:
The United States Governments is composed of three branches: The Legislative Branch to make the laws and is formed by the Congress which is made up of two houses, The Senate and The House of Representatives. The Executive Branch to enforce the laws, and the Judicial Branch to interpret the laws. Student will understand the structure of the U.S. government. Students will understand the term democracy.
The two bottom corners are the Judicial Branch and the Legislative Branch , which is also called Congress. Each part of the government is connected to the other. Each has its own responsibilities and powers. A system called, System of Checks and Balances prevents one branch from gaining too much power.
Some think the judiciary sits atop the other tow branches, the judiciary and the executive. Other think the president sits above Congress and the courts. Therefore, all three are equally accountable to the Constitution, and to the people.
The two bottom corners are the Judicial Branch and the Legislative Branch , which is also called Congress. Each part of the government is connected to the other. Each has its own responsibilities and powers. A system called, System of Checks and Balances prevents one branch from gaining too much power.
Some think the judiciary sits atop the other tow branches, the judiciary and the executive. Other think the president sits above Congress and the courts. Therefore, all three are equally accountable to the Constitution, and to the people.
Tasks
After reading the book D is for Democracy: A Citizen’s Alphabet by Elissa Grodin Victor Juhasz (illustrator,) students will get in groups of four and will discuss about the main idea of the book; the teacher will provide a graphic organizer to help students organize their ideas.The student, independently, will write an essay explaining the main idea of the book and will support the main idea with three details from the text analyzing cause-and-effect of Democracy. The student will create sentences with the new vocabulary learned from the text and will high light them.(e.g. branch, legislative, congress, judicial, executive, ....)The student will get facts from the text to elaborate a multimedia poster about the three branches of the U.S. government.
Process
Instructions for the assignments:
- First, students will get in groups of four. Students will share ideas and concepts about the expository text book, they have read D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet.(The book will provide the child with the information necessary for the assignment).
- The teacher will provide students a graphic organizer,(venn diagram type) to organize ideas and sequences
- Students will summarize the main idea, the author purpose, and three different details from the book.
- The student elaborates three sentences using the new vocabulary from the text.
- Students will find three characteristics of any of the branches of the United Sates Government.
- The teacher will explain how to complete the venn diagram, filling up the blank spaces with the names three branches of the government and their characteristics.
- The teacher will asked what is Democracy? The teacher will show a video about democracy.
- For the next step, the student will elaborate an essay incorporating all the ideas from the graphic organizer and the previous sentences, using the new vocabulary and supporting the main idea with details from the book.
- Student will use google docs for the essay and will share with the teacher the new document.
- For technology integration students will create a multimedia poster describing the functions of the Branches of the U.S. government. (use the link under resources)
- The teacher will supervise that all students will master the content by using appropriate grade level assessments and feedback.
- Students will create a multimedia poster describing the functions of three branches of the United Sates government, all students will participate as a collaborative assignment and will share with the teacher their poster.
- Students can use one of the following tools: ThingLink, Glogster, and/or Smore.
The teacher will provide an essay questions test with an appropriate grade level evaluation:
English Language Arts and Reading
English Language Arts and Reading
Students will a create a multimedia poster describing the three branches of the U.S, government
§110.16. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 5
(11) Reading/ Comprehension of Informational Text/Expository Text.Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about expository text and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:
(11) Reading/ Comprehension of Informational Text/Expository Text.Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about expository text and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to:
- summarize the main idea and supporting details in a ways that maintain meaning and logical order;
- determine the facts in text and verify them through established methods,
- analyze how the organizational pattern of a text, cause-and-effect
- use multiple text features and graphics to gain an overview of the contents of text and to locate
ISTE NETS (teacher)
3. Model digital age work and learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge,skills, and work process representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
Teachers exhibit knowledge,skills, and work process representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.
- Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
- Collaborate with students,peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
ISTE NETS(students)
- Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
- Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
After an appropriate assessment, teacher's feedback, and evaluation all students should master the content and objectives. The student understands how to read and comprehend an expository text book. The student knows how to analyze, draw conclusions, and find evidences from the expository text. The student is able to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the text. The student understands the three branches of the U.S. government and its functions, as well as the term Democracy. The student also may mastered the technology standards.