NC Essential Standards: 5. C&G.1.

2 Summarize the organizational structures

and powers of the United States government (legislative, judicial, and
executive branches of government).

Grade Level 5th-Elementary

Summative Performance Task Students will work together to

create a mock government and
write a Class Constitution.

Compelling Question:
Are the Three Branches of Government Part of the Same Tree?

Supporting Question I Supporting Question II Supporting Question III

What Are the 3 Branches of
US Government?
Historical Sources
A. 3 Branches of Government
Graphic
B. K12 Reader Document:
Branches of Government
C. Cabinet Duties
D. Establishment of Cabinet
What Are the Duties of the 3
Branches Outlined in the US
Constitution?
Historical Sources
A. Article I of the Constitution
(excerpt)
B. Article II of the Constitution
(excerpt)
C. Article III of the Constitution
(excerpt)
What is the Purpose of the
Checks and Balances?
Historical Sources
A. Checks and Balances
excerpt
B. Excerpt from James
Madison Biography
C. Checks and Balances
Chart

Formative Performance Task I Formative Performance Task II Formative Performance Task III

Pretend you are a tour guide and
your group visits a building
housing a specific branch of
government. Write out a guide for
the information you will present.
One group of kindergarteners
and one group of 5th graders.
Use the evidence in each
Constitution Article to determine
any overlaps and or connections to
duties between the branches.
Write a persuasive paper in
support or opposing checks and
balances? Do you believe a
specific branch should have
absolute control? Why would the
founding fathers have this
clause?

Summative Performance Task:

Students will work in groups of four. The group will work together to construct a Class Constitution
and 3 branches with duties. Once the group has created a constitution and 3 branches, they will
construct a flow chart of checks and balances among the branches. Each person will write a
reflective paper on how well or difficult was the process to write a class constitution.
SUPPORTING QUESTION 1 SOURCE A
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 1 SOURCE B

Source:K12Reader
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 1 SOURCE C

http://www.ducksters.com/history/us_cabinet.php
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 1 SOURCE D

https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 2 SOURCE A

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3948
SUPPORTING QUESTION 2 SOURCE B
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 2 SOURCE C

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3948
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 3 SOURCE A

http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_checksandbalances.htm
 SUPPORTING QUESTION 3 SOURCE B

Read this excerpt from a biography of James Madison

 SUPPORTING QUESTION 3 SOURCE C

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10203536631075267/