Overview and Background: Unit: United States Government

Lori Fast : Cheney USD 268

History. Technology. : History. Technology. : Language Arts. Science. Technology.

Cheney : Grades 1 - 1

Title:	United States Government
Topics:	History, technology
Time Frame:
Start Date:	-
Status:	Draft
Date Revised:

Other Designers:

Summary:
This unit will teach students the three branches of government in the United States and how each branch works together to create a democratic society. The students will also learn how government affects their community, family and themselves.

Print Materials Needed:
Text: Harcourt Reading 4th grade: Selection: A Very Important Day
Picture Book: The Ten Penny Goose

Resources:

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1:http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/national/executive.html

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

State:	KS
Title:	Civics-Government, Economics
Standard(s):	Civics-Government D3.1: Identify the three branches of government and their primary functions. D3.2: Identify the powers & responsibilities in each branch of government D5.3: Identifies the characteristics of a democracy & a monarchy Economics D4.1: Identify the goods and services provided by two different levels of government.

Understandings:
user	The United States government is a balance between the three branches of government. All levels of government work together to benefit society.

Essential Questions:
User	1. What impact does the government have on you and your family? 2. What is the relationship between the different branches of the government? 3. What government services affect your community (local, state, federal)? 4. How does the government affect your family?

Knowledge and Skills:

K
*The branches of government
*The leaders of those branches
*The function of each level
*What type of government the Founding Fathers of the United States chose and why they chose this type of government.
*The important documents that our government is based upon.
*Explain the difference between a monarchy and a democracy.
*Give examples of goods and services provided by two different levels of government.
*Synthesize and apply information from Social Studies text, resource books, and the internet.
*Interpret information from web quests.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

Assessment Summary:
The students will create a PowerPoint presentation to teach others about the three branches of government.

Task/Prompt: New U.S. Citizen Tutor

Type: Performance Task

Topics: history, technology

Summary:
The students will create a PowerPoint presentation to teach others about the three branches of government.

Print Materials Needed:
*http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/national/executive.html
text selections

Resources:
PowerPoint Software
computer

Resource Attachments:

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1: http://
Link 2: http://
Link 3: http://
Link 4: http://
Link 5: http://

Notes:

Student Directions:
You are a tutor in charge of helping a new U.S. immigrant study for the government portion of his/her U.S. citizenship test. Create a PowerPoint study guide to help them study. You must include each branch of government, its leaders and functions and each branches economic and political effects of society.

Each branch must be organized in the following way:
Page one: Overview of the branch and its primary functions
Page two: Who is in power and its responsibilities
Page three: The economic effects and political effects on society

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Learning Activities:

W
*Introduce the unit using the essential questions listed above.
*Post essential questions in classroom
*Present the culminating performance task requirements and scoring rubric for performance assessments.

H
*Read the Ten Penny Goose, discuss monarchy vs. democracy.

E
*Read Story from Reading text: A Very Important Day, discuss relationship among characters in the story to the goal of each: becoming a U.S. citizen.
*Take a pre-citizenship test with class, introducing the class to government knowledge needed to become a U.S. citizen.
*Venn diagram on monarchy vs. democracy
*Worksheet on the levels of government
*Worksheet on the branches of government
*Create a mobile that includes each branch of government along with its leaders and functions.
*Classroom discussions on how each level of government effects "me".
*Video: History Rocks: Government section

R
*Write a reflective journal entry as an immigrant writing a letter back to relatives in their "homeland" describing what it takes to become a citizen of the United States.
*Group review of essential questions

E
You are a tutor in charge of helping a new U.S. immigrant study for the government portion of his/her U.S. citizenship test. Create a PowerPoint study guide to help them study. You must include each branch of government, its leaders and functions and each branches economic and political effects of society.

Each branch must be organized in the following way:
*Page one: Overview of the branch and its primary functions.

Page two: Who is in power and its responsibilities.

Page three: The economic effects and political effects on society.

Notes: