Balancing three branches at once: Our system of checks and balances
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=222
A lesson plan for Grade 5 English Language Arts and Social Studies
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 5
- Subjects
- social studies (civics and government)
- Provider
- National Endowment for the Humanities
Legal
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This page contains four EDSITEment lessons in which students use primary source documents to investigate how the three branches of the American government can check each other. By the end of these lessons, not only will students be able to name the three branches of government but will also be able give examples of each branch checks and balances the others. Students will examine the lyrics of such popular Schoolhouse Rocks songs as “No More Kings” and “Three-Ring Government” as well as primary source documents including George Washington's copy of the Declaration of Independence and others that illustrate a check by one branch of government on the power of another.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 5
- Goal 2: The learner will analyze political and social institutions in North America and examine how these institutions respond to human needs, structure society, and influence behavior.
- Objective 2.01: Analyze major documents that formed the foundations of the American idea of constitutional government.
- Objective 2.02: Describe the similarities and differences among the local, state, and national levels of government in the United States and explain their legislative, executive, and judicial functions.
- Objective 2.03: Recognize how the United States government has changed over time.
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- word reference materials.
- content area study.
- writing process elements.
- writing as a tool.
- debate.
- discussions.
- seminars.
- examining the author's craft.
- Objective 1.05: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
- increase fluency.
- build background knowledge.
- expand and refine vocabulary.
- Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
- making predictions.
- formulating questions.
- supporting answers from textual information, previous experience, and/or other sources.
- drawing on personal, literary, and cultural understandings.
- seeking additional information.
- making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
- Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, such as:
- fiction (tall tales, myths).
- nonfiction (books of true experience, newspaper and magazine articles, schedules).
- poetry (narrative, lyric, and cinquains).
- drama (plays and skits).
- Objective 2.05: Evaluate inferences, conclusions, and generalizations and provide evidence by referencing the text(s).
- Objective 2.09: Listen actively and critically by:
- asking questions.
- delving deeper into the topic.
- elaborating on the information and ideas presented.
- evaluating information and ideas.
- making inferences and drawing conclusions.
- making judgments.
- Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- formulate hypotheses.
- evaluate information and ideas.
- present and support arguments.
- influence the thinking of others.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
