Annotation:

This lesson is designed for a fourth grade class, but can be adapted to other levels.  The teacher will use this lesson during a Social Studies unit on the United States Constitution.  Throughout this lesson the students will take a field trip to the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court including investigating the checks and balances of the branches of government
 

Primary Learning Outcomes:

QCCs

Total Duration

Materials and Equipment

Procedures

Step One:

The teacher will asks the students the following questions before the field trip:
What does America mean to you?
                  If you are an American citizen, what does it mean to you to be American?
                  What are some of the privileges Americans have which are lacking in other parts of the world?
                  Who were the first people living in the United States?

Step Two

 The teacher will conduce a whole class discussion and analysis of the Preamble.  The students will learn the different phrases such as:

Ø form a more perfect union
Ø establish justice
Ø domestic tranquility
Ø common defense
Ø promote general welfare
Ø secure blessings of liberty

Step Three

Next, the students will participate in a virtual field trip to the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court.  They will also investigate the checks and balances of the branches of government.

Step Four

   The virtual field trip begins.

The students will be placed in groups of four.  Each group will be assigned a virtual tour:
1. http://www.whitehouse.gov/
2. http://www.house.gov/
3. http://www.Senate.gov/
4. http://www.uscourts.gov/

Step Five

Review the sites that were visited and ask, "Did you see or read anything at the sites that surprised you?"  Next, have the students share and compare their information that was found while on the virtual tour.

Assessment

The teacher will put the students into groups of four.  He or she will assign each group a topic concerning the United States Government.  The class will create their own government including a constitution.

Your model of the constitution will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1.  Appearance  -   neat and colorful
2.  Complete factual information
3.  Proper grammar and spelling
 

Extension

The student will write a report, summarizing the information found on the virtual tour.  The student will then use a word processor to type the report.

Remediation

The teacher will help the struggling student(s) as well as partner them with another student.

Accommodation

The students identified with exceptional needs are not present at this time.

Pre/Post Test

1) Describe the branches of the United States government.

2) Name the different Courts of the United States.