Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: The Branches of Government

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 4th Grade

Content Standard Addressed: SS4CG3 Describe the structure of government and the Bill of Rights.
a. Describe how the three branches of government interact with each other (checks and balances and
separation of powers), and how they relate to local, state, and federal government.

Technology Standard Addressed:

4. Innovative Designer Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve
problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions. Students: a. know and use a deliberate design
process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems. b.
select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and
calculated risks. c. develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process. d. exhibits a
tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
Selected Technology Tool: Inspiration 9

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

Blooms 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

Lesson idea implementation:

The students are now learning about the structure of our government. This week we will go over the 3
branches of government and the students will do research on this topic. They will then be given the
assignment that goes along with this subject. The students will be using Inspiration 9 to create a diagram of
the 3 branches of government. They will need at least 8 10 bubbles of information. They will also need to
create a link to a website that has information on the branches of government. They can use a template
already created or they can start from scratch and create their own. I want the students to be creative and
add pictures and have fun with this assignment. They will work on the assignment in class over the next week
during Social Studies class so they can ask questions and get guidance when needed.
When the students are done with their assignments they will have the opportunity to present them to the
class and then we will save their assignments in JPG form so we can add it to the classroom blog so their
parents can see the work they have done. The students will be assessed on creativity, having the proper
amount of bubbles, and having a link in their assignment. When the students are done presenting their
diagram I will give them feedback on their work. The assignments purpose is for the students to be able to
identify the 3 branches of government in the United States and be able to identify the jobs of each branch.

Summer 2017_SJB