ONLINE RESOURCES TO TEACH GOVERNMENT TO 3RD 5TH GRADE

1. http://mendell.wikispaces.com/Social+Studies Mr. M s wiki is full of links to helpful resources for teachers, parents, and students. A few of my favorite features of this wiki are the government web quest and the 10 steps to a successful moviemaker project. I started looking at this wiki for the resources that taught the three branches of government, but ended up staying a lot longer and discovered other features. This would be a great site for 3rd-5th teachers, but I think teachers of any level could find something useful on this site. 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyqEAPYnhjk&feature=related There are a lot of videos and PowerPoint s on youtube.com that can aid in teaching students the three branches of government, but it is important to find one that your students can relate to and understand. I think that this one is the best youtube.com has to offer students because the video relates the branches of government in a way that 3rd-5th graders can understand and remember. Also the explanation is accurate. Students can use this video as a learning tool or an inspiration for them to create their own video. 3. http://blogs.scholastic.com/3_5/2009/01/government-101.html This is a valuable source for teachers that are teaching government because the work is done for you. The blog explains how the teacher integrated the lesson in her classroom and then gave other ideas of integration. It also includes pictures, printable patterns and notes for students. Not only is the lesson included, but also follow up activities and book suggestions. I love this because it is more than a lesson with a printout. Teachers can use this to differentiate in the classroom for students of any learning level. 4. http://www.proteacher.org/c/279_3_Branches_of_Government_Activities.html This site is a favorite because it allows teacher to make a teachable unit by combining ideas from different teachers. There is a chat and a blog area for teachers to come together and share teaching ideas and experiences. Some of the ideas are as simple as using a three legged step stool to represent the three branches of government and others provide an entire lesson plan and links to helpful websites. Proteacher.com is a Web 2.0 tool that is added to everyday. You can use proteacher.com to find lesson ideas, classroom management suggestions, or ask questions and feedback from other teachers.

5. http://whitmer.wikis.birmingham.k12.mi.us/The+Constitution+Works++Workspace+2 This is a site where a teacher created a wiki for her class. My favorite feature of this teacher s wiki is that each of her students have posted a learning portfolio to display their work. This provides I also like The Constitution Works page because it gives details on checks and balances in standard note form and then explains how the branches work together. In grades 3-5 we teach standard note form, which is sometimes difficult to find examples already created.

6. http://communities.annenbergclassroom.org/blogs/041306kolbert/rss.aspx This RSS 2.0 is a favorite because it includes a great lesson to teach the branches of government that uses primary sources. Within the lesson there are links to videos that explain the importance of balancing of powers. These videos include court cases and an interview with Justices O Conner and Breyer. 7. http://sandlinpreap.blogspot.com/2010/02/branches-of-government-toondoocartoons.html This teacher s blog gives a great idea on how to teach government or reinforce ideas already taught. One of the fun activities found on the blog is a ToonDoo. Students are able to use their knowledge of the branches of government and their creative side to make a cartoon about the branches of government. The best part is that it comes with a directions sheet and a rubric. 8. http://www.coetail.asia/rowek/ This RSS feed is a good place to go for visual aids during a branches of government lesson. My favorite aspect of this feed is that is gives the teacher differentiated approaches to teaching government and explains why they put in the particular visual aids. The lesson starts out with a You Tube video, and then includes a game, followed by more interactive activities, videos and quizzes. 9. http://ilearntechnology.com/?s=3+branches+of+government&x=37&y=19 This is an edublog about integrating technology in the classroom. This site gives resources that include a game that students can play to learn about the three branches of government. My favorite feature of the site is how interactive all of the resources are. Students can use these sources on a PC or it can be used as a whiteboard activity. The site gives teachers ideas on how to integrate it in their government unit plan. For example, there is an interactive part and it gives the suggestion to have students use it to study for a test. 10. http://learninginhand.com/ipod-image-sets/ This is a site that has put together learning tools for various subjects. For teaching government, there is a matching quiz that can be put onto an ipod or other mobile device. My kids would love studying the branches of government if they were able to use their ipod in school. I like all of the possibilities of this site. All of the ipod image sets that are available would be great for teaching 3rd-5th graders. This site is also where I found this link http://www.mrcoley.com/flashcards/flashcards_resources.htm, which teaches teachers and students how to make digital flashcards. This link gives learners access to over 50 sets of premade flash cards and web links and tutorial videos on how to create personalized learning tools.