Text Set Collections: 3 Branches of Government

Webquests -- I really love webquests and the hands on opportunities they provide kids. The best thing about using webquests in your classroom is you have the ability to switch them up and use them as a base to create your own idea. They are also great if your creative juices are running low and you need some help getting started on finding a way to engage your students.


http://questgarden.com/133/94/8/111025071840/index.htm
Three Branches of Government
This webquest is great because it is fun and interactive where students take on different roles. They have to report information on the three branches of government for students in their class. They will present their information through activities such as posters, brochures, and scavenger hunts.

Age: Grades 3 -5

http://questgarden.com/84/06/3/090626095451/index.htm
What are the Three Branches of Government?
For this assignment, students will be running for a place in the government. They have to research which branch of government and responsibilities and duties fit best for their personality and beliefs. Once they have done the research, they will put together a speech and run against their classmates to be voted into office.

Age: Grades 3 - 5

http://questgarden.com/80/02/8/090408124422/index.htm
Three Branches of Government
Students will be asked to set up a new government for a new town in their state. They have to research information about our government and how it works in order to run their new town properly. After they gather their information they will create a video to share with the citizens and the class will vote on who they believe would run the town the best.

Age: Grades 3 - 5

Videos-- Videos are a great way to introduce lessons or recap what has been learned the previous day. Some students do not do well reading straight out of books or doing worksheets and videos are a great way to engage and help explain information in an extended form. All of these videos are kid friendly and help the students with songs, jokes, and fun facts.

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/branchesofgovernment/
Branches of Government
This BrainPop is a great introduction to the three branches of government. Tim and Moby go through each branch and their specific powers and guidelines. They speak about how the branches help each other and balance each other out as well as their effects on other parts of government. BrainPop is also great because then there are games and quizzes students can play in order to assess their understanding and if they took anything away from the video.

Age: Grades 3 - 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5M50xBz1cU&feature=related
The Three Branches of Government -- School House Rock
School House Rock has always done a great  job at introducing and helping students to understand school lessons with songs and clever lyrics. This video goes over the three branches of government and their importance. Having it on TeacherTube or YouTube, students have the opportunity of watching them again and the teacher can stop in the middle and explain things more in-depth.

Age: Elementary Grades

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibRAWyRVa3o
Three Branches of Government
Another video for students to learn about the government and how the branches work together. You could use this video as a refresher maybe after the weekend or before a test. It is not as exciting as the school house rock video but if students want a solid review and something to help them remember specific facts this video is good.

Age: Grades 3 - 5

Games and Interactive Websites-- Games and interactive websites help all students in their learning. Along with the videos, they give students the chance to interact and test their own learning without a teaching grading them or staring over their shoulders.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/teacher_lessons/3branches/3bgovt.htm
3 Branches of Government Game 
This website can be a 1 or 2 player game for students. It is set up in a jeopardy style game where students test their knowledge. This could be a good review for students before a test or if they ever finish their work early they can play this game against a classmate. Another fun way to learn as well as keep students working while others may be finishing up.

Ages: Grades 3 -5

http://www.usmint.gov/kids/games/branchesofpower/
Branches of Power
Students love to take the roles of different characters and this website does well to help them! They can become a spy with a top secret document that they need to deliver. They need to know specific information about the three branches of power in order to progress through the levels. Another fun game where students have the ability to determine their own fate. I know I would have LOVED to play this when I was learning this information

Ages: Grades 3 -5

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/branches_government.htm
Branches of Government Game 
Students can prove their knowledge through this government game. They have to place the correct duties with the correct branch and work through the different jobs of the government. This game works for checks and balances, the different components of the executive branch, as well as Obama's personal administration. This helps students with current government not just the basics of overall government.

Ages: Grades 3 - 5

Books-- Although the internet and websites are great ways for students to learn, we also cannot forget that books are also an important role in student learning. They need to be able to hold something and learn from the information inside.

How the U.S. Government Works
Written By: Syl Sobel
This book explains the different parts of the government and jobs of all the houses. It has good pictures and explanations for students ho may not be comprehending the information. This book also discusses the individual citizens role in the government and how we play a part. It connects the students to the materials making it more meaningful and interesting.

Ages: Grades 3 -5

The Everything American Government Book
Written By: Nick Ragone
This book is awesome for students because it gives information for everything in the government from the birth of our nation to all parts of government. It has a lot of fun information and it is kid friendly in how it is presented and has fun ways for students to interact with the materials. If students were ever working on a project it would be a fun way to get the information and get the creativity going.

Ages: Grades 3 - 5

Branches of Government: Government in Action
Written By: John Hamilton
Another great resource for how the government works. The book speaks of several forms of government to give kids a compare and contrast idea of how our government works as well as how the Constitution became the US plan for government. It also discusses the branches of government plus checks and balances .... another great overview for students to use to better understand information.

Ages: Grades 4 and 5

Websites -- These three websites are each for a branch of government with the different roles and the people who work within these roles. It helps students to get a better idea of the branches since each site is dedicated to one branch of the government.

http://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_president.htm
Executive Branch: Who's in the White House?
This site focuses on the Executive Branch and the different components associated with it. Students can click on links and the information s friendly written It also gives fun facts and breaks down the information so students aren't taking in irrelevant information that ma confuse their understanding.

Ages: Grades 3 - 5

http://www.congressforkids.net/Judicialbranch_index.htm
Judicial Branch: Here Comes the Judge!
Just as the last site had for just the Executive Branch, this is about the Judicial Branch. This site talks about the Supreme Court, segregation, and the Justices ... each an important part of the Judicial Branch. Same as the site above it is kid friendly with relevant and easy to understand information.

Ages: Grades 3 - 5

http://www.congressforkids.net/Legislativebranch_house.htm
Legislative Branch: House, Senate, and Laws, oh my!!! 
A very informative website about the Legislative Branch with all of its components. Same as the other two sites it works to inform students in a kid friendly way without giving too much information to over-whelm them. Students can even print the website to take home for reference.

Ages: Grades 3 - 5