Let The People Be Heard:  The Legislative Branch

Grade Level:  Fifth

Subjects:  Social Studies, Language Arts, Study Skills, and Computer Technology

Learner Outcomes:

• The student will able to state the functions of the legislative branch of the federal government.
• The student will be able to complete a 3-D paper cube that shows the functions of the federal government.
• The student will complete a worksheet "Legislative Jargon" that will help them understand unfamiliar terms about government.

Materials:

• "House Mouse, Senate Mouse" by Peter W. Barnes
• worksheet, "legislative jargon"
• a cube template

• Multimedia computer with Internet access

• Emphasize that they need to make their cube colorful.
• The functions that are to be put on the sides to the cubes are NOT written in sentences. (They may be phrases such as, "makes the laws").
• The cubes are lightweight  and are easy to hang by fishing line as a mobile. (See a sample before it is folded.)

Day 1:

• Read the short book to the students orally.  Have them listen for the major functions of the U.S. Legislature.  Have them write these functions as "notes".   Guide them toward the correct information and monitor to make sure these notes are correct.  Students should keep these for later use.

Day 2:

• Give the students a copy of the worksheet, "Legislative Jargon" that they are to take to the computer lab.  They are to access the computer site USA Government.  This worksheet further clarifies the functions of the legislative branch of the federal government.

Day 3:

• Give each student a copy of the blank cube template.  On one side of the cube they are to list the branch of government they are studying (legislative).  Sides 2-5 should state the functions of the legislature.  On the last side that should draw a picture or symbol that correlates (i.e. American flag, the capitol building)   They are to cut out the cube (after the sides have been filled) and then fold it.  The finished product should be a paper cube that is three-dimensional that states the branch, four aspects of this branch and a picture or symbol.
• Although this lesson only suggests one site, an additional helpful site is Ben's Guide to Government.

• Some student lessons will be modified according to the IEP specifications.
• Students may work in pairs to complete the worksheet.
• The teacher could have index cards made of the terms and on separate cards their meanings.   Some students would benefit from pairing the correct vocabulary word to its meaning.

• For students that understand how to develop the cube, they could get two more blank cube templates and repeat for the other branches of government.  They may use Internet sites, the school library or the social studies text.  These cubes could be added to the others for a complete 3-D mobile that states ALL the branches of the federal government and the functions of each.

	note taking from the  short book read to them	completed the worksheet from the lab	successfully located Internet site	finished the cube with all sides completed according to directions
points possible	10	15	5	12

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

• Language Arts:  Reading Comprehension 5.16
• Study Skills:  5.172
• Computer Technology:  5.79
• Social Studies: US History 5.4, 5.5

Social Studies:

• Understands how the United States Constitution grants and distributes power and responsibilities to national and state government and how it seeks to prevent the abuse of power.

• Knows how the values and principles of American  democracy can be promoted through government (e.g., voting, keeping informed about public issues, writing to legislators, serving on juries).

Technology:

• Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

Language Arts:  Reading

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

References:

• copy of, House Mouse, Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes

Janie Bailey
Angel Bodnar
Pat Perry
Flinn Elementary

 

Overview:

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

Lesson 2: Who's the Boss?

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

Lesson 5: What Do You Know About Your Government?