Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Three Branches of Government

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd

Content Standard Addressed: SS3CG1: Describe the elements of representative democracy/republic in the
United States. c. State the main responsibility of each branch: executive (enforcing laws), legislative (making
laws), judicial (determining if laws are fair).
ELAGSE3RI1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text
as the basis for the answers.

Technology Standard Addressed: Knowledge Constructor Students critically curate a variety of

resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful

learning experiences for themselves and others.

3aStudents plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other
resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.

Selected Technology Tool: Promethean board, Document Camera, and Discovery Education

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://app.discoveryeducation.com/core:builders/boards?layout=default&assetGuid=36cf09aa-8bf8-44d2-
bb89-b216c5e853ef&includeHeader=true

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): I could incorporate Universal Design for learning in this lesson by
allowing students to work with a partner or a group to share a device. This would allow for students to do
research more thoroughly and students would have better access. For this lesson, it would be ideal to have
students in the learning commons (media center/computer lab) so each student would have his or her own
computer. For students that may need more technology support I will create a small group on tablets so
students are able to receive direct support from a teacher one-on-one.
Lesson idea implementation:
Students will create anchor charts in their social studies journal and their literacy journal for finding key
details. Students will watch on the Promethean board as teacher draws both anchor charts with them on the
document camera. Students will then use Discovery Education page created by the teacher to write down a
key detail for each branch of government on their graphic organizer. Finally, students must fill out two more
facts for each branch of government on their graphic organizer using the online library system to read
informational articles.
The lesson should take 45 minutes to complete. The final product (their graphic organizer) will be used to
write a summary of each branch of government in a later lesson. Student learning will be assessed by
Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
checklist on correct use of technology and a completed graphic organizer including three facts for each
branch of government. To extend the lesson, students will work in groups of 4-6 to create a skit on one
branch of government. In their skit, students must include 3-5 quotes from an online or text source. The
lesson will be concluded with creating hand motions to remember which branch of government does what.
Students will receive feedback in their social studies journals on ideas of where to find information for a skit
and other related comments.
Reflective Practice:
This lesson went well in my classroom. The students enjoyed using technology and all of the students
benefited from learning how to use the online library system to find related articles (and not just using
Google). This was a review lesson but I would like to extend the lesson by following through with the idea for
students to create a skit in a small group (see above). This would implement brain-based learning and
students would have fun while learning social studies, literacy strategies, and gain practice with technology.

Spring 2018_SJB