Name: Isabelle Tearse

Date: April 20, 2018

Grade Level: Content Area: Common Core Standard: CA ELD Standard:

3.4.4: Students understand the
Third Grade Social Studies role of rules and laws in our
daily lives and the basic
structure of the U.S.
Government. Understand the
three branches of government,
with an emphasis on local
government.
A.1: Exchanging information
and ideas with others through
oral collaborative discussions
on a range of social and
academic topics.
B.5: Listening actively to
spoken English in a range of
social and academic contexts.

C.12: Selecting and applying

varied and precise
vocabulary and language
structures to effectively
convey ideas

English Time: 60 minutes

Language Content Lesson Language
Proficiency Target/Objective: Target/Objective:
Level: SWBAT state what the three Students will express the
branches of the government are meaning of the meaning the
All levels and explain what each of the three branches of the
three branches of the government through oral
government does. communication and written
work.

Materials:
- Blank KWL chart
- Scholastic Branches of the Government books (enough for class to share in pairs)
- Jigsaw packets with an entire page dedicated to each of the three branches
- Pencils
- Task Chart: poster with tasks listed (1. Read your section. 2. List the most important facts as
you read. 3. Check your facts with your group mates. 4.You are ready to share with your
classmates. )

Do Now: - TTW say “Today we are going to use the jigsaw strategy to break apart our reading on
Time: 7 the three branches of government and then come together to share and teach our parts
 with our mixed groups.”
- TSW share out what they already know about the branches while TTW record their
answers in the know section of the KWL chart
- TSW share out what they want to know about the three branches of government while
TTW record their responses on the Want to know section of the KWL chart

Student Students will be able to explain what each branch of the government does.
Friendly
Objectiv
e:
I do: - TTW go over vocabulary words and what they mean: Senate, Congress, House of
Time: 10 Representatives, legislation, President, vice president, cabinet, judge, Supreme Court,
laws, bills, veto
- TTW explain that as they read the book the children should raise their hands when they
hear these words and she will call on someone to define them and TTW call a different
student to give an example of the word being used in a sentence
- TTW read through the three chapters on the three branches of government from the
scholastic book while the students follow along

We do: - TTW play this brain pop video

Time: 5 https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernment/branchesofgovernment/

You do: - TTW remind the students of the jigsaw activity say “Remember, as you read your part,
Time: 18 you need to find the most important facts to share and list them so that you can teach
these important ideas to your classmates afterwards.”
- TTW will draw the students attention to the task chart reminding them that this is a tool
they can use to figure out what they should be doing
- TSW get into 6 preselected expert groups (2-3) and take notes on the sheet for their
assigned branch of the government using the scholastic book as a reference
- ELL students will get a more specific jigsaw sheet to fill out
- TSW discuss what they learned about their branch of the government and prepare to
share out
You do: - TSW get in preselected jigsaw groups where they will share out about their branch of
Time: 10 government with the other students in the groups. TTW do their beat to have at least 1
advanced English student from each branch of government in each of the groups in order
to help the ELL student from the same branch that is in that group as well
Exit
Ticket/ - TTW share the info graphic in this link and briefly go over each part to recap what the
Closure: groups shared out
Time: 10 (https://app_usa_prod_eqffnyamdzrb.s3.amazonaws.com/USA_Government_Branches_I
nfographic.pdf)
- TSW share out the most interesting thing they learned and the teacher will record their
answers on the Learned section of the KWL chart
- TTW collect the three branches packets to assess for completion and spelling

Notes: Everyone will simply get lines under each header for their jigsaw sheet, where as students who are ELL
and need more support will get the sheets below that have more specifics for each category.
 3 BRANCHES OF THE
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
JIGSAW

Directions: Fill out the note taking guide below, define the terms
provided in the “who is in this branch” section. I have also
provided a general answer for the second header, “what things do
they discuss/do” to help guide your research.

Learning Objective: To be able to describe what goes on in each of

the three branches of our United States government and who is
involved in each branch.
 EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Who is in this branch?
President:

Vice President:

Cabinet:

What things do they discuss/do?

(Discusses laws and carries out laws)

Fun Facts (2):

1.

2.
 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Who is in this branch?
Congress:
Senate:

House of Representatives:

What things do they discuss/do?

(Make Laws)

Fun Facts (2):

1.

2.
 JUDICIAL BRANCH
Who is in this branch?
Supreme Court:

Other Federal Courts:

What things do they discuss/do?

(Interpret laws)

Fun Facts (2):

1.

2.