USC Aiken School of Education Lesson Plan Template

(see detailed lesson plan guide and rubric)

Template
Candidate Name: Charity Stroman
Lesson Title: Government: Legislative Branch
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Grade Level(s) 3rd Grade
Number of Students: 25
Date: 4/30/20
Duration: 35 minutes
Standards & Indicators: 3-3.5 Outline the structure of state government, including the branches of government
(legislative, executive, and judicial), the representative bodies of each branch (general
assembly, governor, and supreme court), and the basic powers of each branch.
Learning Objective: The student will be able correctly identify 5 characteristics of the Legislative Branch given a
worksheet of 25 characteristics with 100% accuracy.
Assessment: Pre-Assessment: Formative Assessment: Summative Assessment:
See the lesson plan guide for
suggested assessments. Ask students “What do you Ask students “What leaves go Unit Quiz
Attach a copy of all rubrics, know about the legislative on the Legislative branch?”
checklists, rating sheets, and branch?”
scoring guides you will use.
Differentiation  Early finisher should independently read until the rest of the class is finished.
Diversity for Student Learning

 There will be subtitles on the video for students who are hard of hearing.
 If students are not able to cut the leaves using scissors, they will place a L in
Accommodations statement that corresponds to Legislative Branch.

Modifications

Grouping Students: This will be a whole group lesson.

Materials/Resources:  Smartboard
Attach a copy of all handouts  Legislative Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hltv8-nzcUc
for your lesson.  Three Branches of Government PowerPoint
 Social Studies notebook
 Glue
 Scissors
 Branches of Government Tree Worksheet
Educational Technology:  Smartboard
 Legislative Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hltv8-nzcUc
 Three Branches of Government PowerPoint
Pedagogical Strategies: ☐ Anticipation Guide ☐ Direct instruction/lecture ☐ Mnemonic device
See the lesson plan guide for ☐ Brainstorming ☐ Demonstration ☐ Drawing/artwork
suggested strategies. Attach
☐ Graphic organizer/concept map ☐ Hands-on manipulatives ☐ Movement
USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19 Page 1 of 3
a copy of all activity sheet(s)
to your lesson plan.
Lesson Structure/
Procedures:
See the lesson plan guide for
step-by-step procedures.
Include:
 Launching the lesson
with a strong opening
 Opportunity for students
to explore
 Direct teaching
 Opportunity for students
to practice
 Assessment embedded
throughout the lesson
 A meaningful closure
Safety Considerations:
Follow Up:
Questioning:
USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19
☒ Structured notetaking ☐ Small groups ☐ Music
☐ Analyze image, photo, or object ☐ Inquiry stations ☒ Video
☐ Annotate or highlight text ☐ Gallery Walk ☐ Roleplay
☐ Guided practice ☐ Turn & Talk ☐ Game
☐ Quick Writes ☐ Think-Pair-Share ☐ Project
☐ Inquiry Learning Cycle ☐ Other:
Visual stimulation encourages student interaction with content or a concept. It also creates a
bigger memory imprint in a student’s mind, making teaching with videos perfect for
information retention.
ENGAGE: (5 minutes)
 The teacher will begin the lesson by asking students “What do you know about the
Legislative government?”
 The teacher will give the students 30 seconds to think and then pick two- three
students to tell the class what they know about the Legislative Government.
 After the students answer the students will watch the video What is the Legislative
Branch of the U.S. Government?
EXPLORE: (5 minutes)
 When the teacher is done with the PowerPoint two students will be chosen to pass
out the glue and scissors.
 The students will then have 5 minutes to cut out the leaves of that belong on the
Legislative Branch of their Types of Government tree.
EXPLAIN: (15 minutes)
 After the students watch the video “What is the Legislative Branch of the U.S.
Government” the teacher will pull up the Branches of Government PowerPoint a
scroll to the Legislative Branch section.
 As a class the students and teacher will go through the PowerPoint.
EVALUATE: (10 minutes)
 When the students are done cutting the leaves to the tree the class will go over their
trees to make sure they chose the right leaves.
 The teacher should ask the question: “How did you know what leaves belonged to
the Legislative Branch?”
 The following 5 leaves should be put on the Legislative Branch:
1. The House of Representatives is part of this branch.
2. This branch makes laws.
3. This branch meets in the Capitol Building.
4. The Senate is part of this branch.
5. This branch is also called Congress.
END: (5 minutes)
 After the class discusses which leave belongs on the Legislative Branch the students
will get their Social Studies notebook, turn to the page with their Types of
government Tree and glue the corresponding leaves to the branch on the tree. (If
students finish early, they should independently read at their desk until it is time for
dismissal.)
All classroom rules apply.
For students who do not understand during independent reading time the teacher will pull a
small group and go over what the students do not understand. If students can grasp the
understanding of the Legislative Branch the class will move on, play the government
Jeopardy game next class period and take the assessment.
Knowledge and comprehension Application and analysis Creation and evaluation
What leaves go on the How did you know what
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 What do you know about the Legislative branch? leaves belonged to the
Legislative Branch? Legislative Branch?

Linking Theory to Social cognitive theory: Learning occurs in a social context through observation,
Practice: imitation, and modeling (Bandura). Teachers focus on demonstration and repetition. 
See the lesson plan guide for The teacher is focusing on demonstrating and repeating the material in different
suggested theoretical
perspectives. The theory you
ways to make sure that the student has an understanding.
select should support the
teaching strategies and
groupings described in your
lesson plan.
Reference(s):  National Constitution: PowerPoint
 Legislative Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hltv8-nzcUc

USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19 Page 3 of 3