Who's the Boss?  The Executive Branch

Grade Level:  Fifth

Subject:  Social Studies, Language Arts, Art, Computer Technology

Learner Outcomes:

• The student will read the historical fiction story, Woodrow, The White House Mouse, about the executive branch of government.
• The student will determine the author's purpose for writing the story Woodrow, The White House Mouse.
• The student will research the Powers and Responsibilities of the United States President using the Internet and take notes from Internet sites and a PowerPoint presentation shown by the teacher.
• The student will complete "The Many Hats of a United States President" activity using research information to list and explain the Powers and Responsibilities of the President of the United States.

Materials:

• A copy of Woodrow, The White House Mouse  by Peter and Cheryl Barnes.
• A copy of Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
• Pencil and paper to use in note taking
• Glue stick
• Scissors

• PowerPoint presentation on Powers and Responsibilities of the United States President
• Multimedia computer with Internet access
• Internet site:  Ben's Guide (3-5):  The Constitution... About the Constitution
• Internet site:  Ben's Guide (6-8):  The Constitution... About the Constitution
• Overhead projector with markers
• Media Projector with screen or television with linking cable

• Be sure to have Internet usage consent forms signed by all students.
• Show students the illustrations from Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina.  Explain that they will be stacking the President's "Hats" on the President's head in the same manner as the peddler in the book.
• This activity can be created on the computer using Word Art and Paint or created without the computer by using construction paper and markers.

Day 1:

1.   Discuss how the phrase "hats" is used in reference to the different duties that a person does at home and on the job (i.e. dad, coach, husband, executive, etc.) and how that person has different responsibilities with each job.  After reading Woodrow, The White House Mouse orally to the class, discuss the various "hats" that the United States President wears for his job during his term in office.  Allow time for students to take notes. (Use an overhead to make a rough outline of the Powers "hats" of the President as the students recall the information from the book)

Example:

A. Head of State (Power "Hat")
B. Commander In Chief (Power "Hat")

2.  Discuss the author's purpose for writing the story, Woodrow, The White House Mouse.

Day 2:

1.  The students will access  Ben's Guide (3-5): The Constitution... About the Constitution and take notes on the Powers and Responsibilities of the United States President.  These notes will be used to expand the outline by listing the responsibilities under the powers discussed on Day 1.

Example:

        A.  Head of State (Power "Hat")

1.  In charge of foreign relations (responsibility)
2.  Makes treaties with other countries (responsibility)
3.  Greets foreign dignitaries (responsibility)

B.  Commander In Chief

Day 3:

1.  Watch a brief PowerPoint presentation of the Powers and Responsibilities of the United States President to complete notes.

2.  Begin art project by transferring notes to "hats."   List each power with its responsibilities on a separate hat for a total of five hats. (See examples of type of head and hats in table below)

 (Students may use computer to generate drawings or draw by hand.)

To construct using the computer, click here for directions.

Examples for the types of heads and hats are listed below in the table:
 

Document 1-Head	Document 2-Hat	Document 3-Hat	Document 4-Hat	Document 5-Hat	Document 6-Hat
President's Head	Head of State	Chief Executive	Commander in Chief	Chief Legislator	Chief of Party

(Click here to return to step 2)

3,  Cut out hats and President's head.

4.  Glue the hats on the President's head in the same manner as the peddler's hats in Caps for Sale.

5.  Display art on a bulletin board with the heading "The Many Hats of a U. S. President."

Modifications:

• Student lessons will be modified according to IEP specifications.  Exceptional students may require more time or shortened assignments.  Pairing with another student may be beneficial.  The teacher may also provide pre-printed notes.
• Print a copy of information from Ben's Guide (3-5): The Constitution... About the Constitution for those students who do not have signed consent forms.
• Print a copy of information from Ben's Guide (6-8): The Constitution... About the Constitution for those students who do not have signed consent forms

• Students may write a big book about the "Many Hats of the United States President" illustrating it by adding a new hat to the President's head as each power and responsibility is discussed.

Evaluative/Assessment:  
 

10 points	9 points	8 points	7 points
Completes activity with five hats complete	Completes 4 hats	Completes 3 hats	Completes 2 hats

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives

• United States History, 5.4
• Art: 5.18
• Language Arts/Reading: 5.15, 5.25
• Computer Technology:  5.186, 5.58, 5.79

National Standards:

Social Studies:

• Understands ideas about civic life, politics, and government
• Understands the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments
• Understands the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems

Technology:

• Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs
• Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

Language Arts:

• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Art:

• Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines

• Ben's Guide (3-5):  The Constitution... About the Constitution,
• Ben's Guide (6-8):  The Constitution... About the Constitution,
• Woodrow, The White House Mouse by Peter and Cheryl Barnes
• Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
• Reference URLs

Janie Bailey
Angel Bodnar
Pat Perry
Flinn Elementary, Charleston, WV

 

Overview

Lesson 1: What Does a Tree Have To Do With Government

Lesson 3: Let the People Be Heard

Lesson 4: Here Ye, Here Ye, Here Ye!

Lesson 5: What Do You Know About Your Government?