Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate: Ayanna Sgolombis

Date: 4/25/2016

Grade and Topic: Grade 2, Social Studies Length of Lesson: 45 minutes for 2 days
Mentor Teacher: Marla Phillips and Peggy Barber Murdoc School: University of Memphis
UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:
This lesson is part of a unit that covers life in the United States, including government and civics. It
examines government structures and their purposes.
LESSON OBJECTIVE:
Given Internet access to watch a BrainPOP Jr. video about the three branches of government, TLW learn
about the structure of government and the roles of the branches.
Given a worksheet, TLW match facts regarding the structure and roles of government to the correct
branch with a score of 3 on the grading rubric.
Given access to Kidspiration software, TLW create a graphic organizer that displays what they have
learned about the three branches of government with a score of 3 on the grading rubric.
Student Participation
The goal of this lesson is for students to demonstrate their understanding of the three branches of
government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The students will use
Kidspiration software to create a graphic organizer that analyzes the three branches structures and roles.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
State Standard: TN Social Studies 2.25 Create a graphic organizer to explain the three branches of
government and the basic roles of each.
ISTE Standard(s): 1. Creativity and innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct
knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
3. Research and information fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information.
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of
sources and media.
MATERIALS:
Overhead Projector
A Graphic of the Three Branches of Government
Three Branches of Government Worksheet
Macbooks
Kidspiration Software
Internet Access to:
a. BrainPOP Jr. Video https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/government/branchesofgovernment/
b. Kids.gov Information https://kids.usa.gov/three-branches-of-government/index.shtml

Pencil

Notebook paper

Technology Integration
Students will use the websites listed above as a resources regarding the three branches of government.
Students will use Kidspiration software to create a graphic organizer to show what they have learned. Upon
completing this activity, students will save their graphic organizers and print them out to share with the
class.
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the three branches of government by creating a graphic
organizer on the branches structures and roles.
Academic language is not addressed in IDT 3600.
This lesson is aligned with TN Social Studies standard 2.25.
We will use our graphic organizers when learning about how laws are made, who determines if they are
broken, and who determines the consequences for breaking them.
I am aware that modifications will be made for students who did not master the objectives and for those
ready for enrichment. However, modifications are not covered. in this course and are not part of this
particular lesson.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction:
Begin by telling the class a short story about an evil king who made all the laws in his county and
treated his subjects very badly.
Discuss with the students their opinions of the king and ask them if they would like to live in a
country like the one in the story.
Next, explain that the Constitution of the United States protects American citizens from leaders like
the king through its division of three branches of government and checks and balances.
Display a large sized graphic depicting the three branches of government on an overhead projector.
Explain to students that during the next two days they will be studying the structures of the three
branches of government and their responsibilities.

Procedures: Provide a sequential (step by step) description of the procedures and activities for the
lesson.
Prior to Computer: (10 minutes)
Teacher Procedures
Student Procedures
1. After the introduction, assign students a laptop 1. Students will turn on their laptops, log onto the
and distribute the Three Branches of
Internet, and wait for further instruction.
Government worksheet and notepaper for note
taking.

At the Computer: (45 minutes)

Teacher Procedures
Student Procedures
1. Have students open an Internet browser.
1. Open an Internet browser.
2. Direct students to the BrainPOP Jr. website.
2. Go to BrainPOP Jr. website and watch the
3. Once students have seen the video, have
video.
students complete their worksheets.
3. After watching the video, complete the
4. When students have finished the worksheet
Three Branches of Government worksheet.
activity, have them put it to the side for
4. Put completed worksheet aside for later

5.
6.
7.
8.

later use.
Direct students to the Kids.gov website.
After students have jotted down some
notes, have them put their notes aside for
later use.
Have students open Kidspiration
application.
Monitor and assist as needed.

After the Computer (25 minutes)

use.
5. Go to Kids.gov website and take notes on
your notepaper about the information
presented about the three branches.
6. After notes are complete, put aside for later
use.
7. Open Kidspiration application and click on
the Picture view icon.
8. Click on the Student name icon located
on the top row of the screen.
9. Enter your name in the box displayed on
your screen and click OK
10. In the oval that says Main Idea click on
the box and put the title The Three
Branches of Government
11. Click on the title, and then click on the
Add Symbol icon located on the top row
of the screen.
12. Go back and click on the title again and
add another symbol. Repeat until you have
3 symbols attached to the title. You can
click and drag the symbols to position them
wherever you like on the page.
13. Click on the symbols and name them the
following: Legislative Branch, Executive
Branch, and Judicial Branch.
14. Click on the Legislative, and then click
the Add Symbol icon.
15. Repeat item 14 to add a symbol to the
Executive Branch and Judicial Branch.
16. Add as many symbols you need, depending
on how much information you need to
provide for each branch.
17. Click the eraser icon located on the top row
to clear any mistakes.
18. Fill in the symbols attached to each branch
with information that you have learned
about the structure and roles of each
branch.
*Remember to use your worksheets and
notes!
19. Save work.
20. Print a copy of your graphic organizer.

Teacher Procedures
1. Gather students worksheets and notes.
2. Call on students to present their graphic
organizers individually.
3. Allow students 2-3 minutes to present.
4. Collect all graphic organizers after they are
presented.

Student Procedures
1. Sit quietly at your desk and prepare to present
your graphic organizer to the class.
2. Present your graphic organizer to the class within
2-3 minutes.
3. Be respectful of others who are presenting.
4. Make sure your teacher receives your work after
your presentation.

Closure: What do you have planned to close the lesson? After all work is collected, we will have a class
discussion about which branch of government students would prefer to work in and why they like it best

ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
Criteria
1
Worksheet
Student did not
correctly match any
of the facts to the
appropriate branch.
Graphic Organizer
Students graphic
Project
organizer was
poorly constructed.
Most facts were
located under the
wrong branch.
Student did not add
many facts.
Presentations

Student
demonstrates little
to no understanding
of the content.

2
Student correctly
matched a few of
the facts to the
appropriate branch.
Students graphic
organizer was fairly
well constructed. A
few facts were
located under the
wrong branch.
Student added
sufficient number of
facts.
Student
demonstrates some
understanding of the
content.

3
Student correctly
matched most of the
facts to the
appropriate branch.
Students graphic
organizer was well
constructed. Most
facts were located
under the correct
branch. Student
added many facts.

4
Student correctly
matched all of the
facts to the
appropriate branch.
Students graphic
organizer was very
well constructed. All
facts were located
under the correct
branch. Student
added extra facts.

Student
demonstrates
sufficient
understanding of the
content.

Student
demonstrates
complete
understanding on
the content.

MODIFICATIONS:
I am aware that modifications will be made for students who did not master the objectives and for those
ready for enrichment. However, modifications are not covered in this course and are not part of this
particular lesson.
STUDENT SAMPLE:
Located on third document in Dropbox.