Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 3: Branches of Government

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Young historians climb through the three branches of the US government in the third lesson plan of this five-part series. While reading the first three Articles of the Constitution in small groups, children write facts on paper...
Lesson Plan
Street Law

The Challenge of Selecting an Ideal Supreme Court Nominee

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
Nearly every president has had the opportunity to name a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. But what makes someone an ideal candidate to become a Supreme Court justice? High schoolers test their prior knowledge about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discover details about the responsibilities of the 3 branches of government in the United States. In this checks and balances instructional activity, 7th graders view a SMART Board supported lecture that reveals the jobs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders brainstorm of what they think of when they think about the word state government and list their suggestions on the board. They listen to lecture about the three branches of government understanding how each branch is...
Lesson Plan
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iCivics

Congress

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Through reading materials, worksheets, and a primary source activity, this resource provides an overview of the structure and powers of the legislative branch of government in the United States. Readings review how a bill becomes a law,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this US government worksheet, students fill in a graphic organizer that has the three branches of government and who heads up each branch. Students then answer 7 short answer questions about the chart. Prior knowledge or research...
Worksheet
Digital History

The Age of Constitution Writing

For Students 9th - 12th
Was the United States significantly more democratic in their governing structures and laws after the overthrow of British authorities? Compare and contrast summaries of the country's constitutions under British rule and after...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

The Role of Government: The Federal Government and Fiscal Policy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Give learners a crash course in balancing the books on the United States federal government level with an economics and government resource. Class members engage in a warm-up discussion and brainstorming session before answering...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Government: The Checks and Balances System of the US Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the responsibilities of the 3 branches of U.S. government. In this checks and balances lesson plan, students identify the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Students share examples...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Government: The Constitution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the branches of government. In this U. S. Constitution lesson plan, students examine the system of checks and balances in the U.S. plan of government as they read the document and define vocabulary words.
Organizer
Curated OER

Checks and Balances Chart

For Students 9th
In this checks and balances chart worksheet, students use their textbooks and a copy of the U.S. Constitution to complete 10 items in the chart identifying the branches of government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Executive Branch of the U.S. Government

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a K-W-L chart of what they know about the executive branch of government. They access the Internet to research a specific level of government. They create a PowerPoint presentation with a minimum of eight slides.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Branching Out

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research structure, function and primary responsibilities of each office of the Executive branch, create a chart displaying their research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The President's Cabinet: Choosing the Right Person for the Job

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Young scholars examine the Federal Confirmation Process for filling cabinet members by completing a confirmation process flow chart. They research the process, and participate in a mock Confirmation Process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Leader

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Here is a phenomenal lesson on the three branches of government for your second and third-graders. It presents this often-confusing information in an easy-to-understand format. Many excellent activities and worksheets are embedded in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Judiciary in a System of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers review concepts shown to them in a telecast on the role of the judiciary in a system of separation of powers. After reading an article, they work together in groups to complete a chart on checks and balances. They also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Agencies

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are taught that there is more to executive branch of the federal government than the president and cabinet. They identify in pairs the names and fucntions of different departments under the executive branch of federal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Leader

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine the roles of national leaders and the three branches of government and their duties. They view and discuss the images on the South Dakota Quarter Reverse transparency, complete a worksheet, and create a mobile of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examine Your State Government's Demographics

For Teachers 8th - 11th
How is your state government organized? How many elected officials are women? What is the mean age of your state representatives? Young scholars answer these questions in a research project before creating a chart to reflect their...
Lesson Plan
Ohio Center For Law-Related Education

Four Activities: Thurgood Marshall and the Nomination and Confirmation of Federal Judges

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
The process of nominating and confirming federal judges can sound like a lot of bureaucratic hoops, but a resource breaks down the steps of the Supreme Court nominations in a simpler manner. Learners participate in four activities that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitution Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders identify roles of Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution in establishing new country, create posters with their ideas about each part of Constitution, and explain three branches of government, including their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars make an organizational chart. They show the relationship of power in the executive branch of the Illinois state government. They include the responsibilities of each office and define the roles and responsibilities of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chief Justice Roberts Goes to Court

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students gain an introductory into the branches of government. Students research all parts of government and use Frames to create a public service announcement to teach others the parts of government and how they work.
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

James Madison: Madison Was There

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Madison was there! Scholars go on a journey to discover the person behind the founding father label as they explore James Madison's role in the formation of the United States government. The culmination is a writing assignment and...