USC Aiken School of Education Lesson Plan Template

(see detailed lesson plan guide and rubric)

Template
Candidate Name: Charity Stroman
Lesson Title: Government: Executive Branch
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Grade Level(s) 3rd grade
Number of Students: 25
Date: 4/28/2020
Duration: 35 minutes
Standards & Indicators: 3-3.5 Outline the structure of state government, including the branches of government
(Executive, executive, and judicial), the representative bodies of each branch (general
assembly, governor, and supreme court), and the basic powers of each branch.
Learning Objective: The student will be able correctly identify 5 characteristics of the Executive Branch given a
worksheet of 25 characteristics with 100% accuracy.
Assessment: Pre-Assessment: Formative Assessment: Summative Assessment:
See the lesson plan guide for
suggested assessments. Ask students “What do you Ask students “What leaves go Unit Quiz
Attach a copy of all rubrics, know about the Executive on the Executive branch?”
checklists, rating sheets, and branch?”
scoring guides you will use.
Differentiation  Early finisher should independently read until the rest of the class is finished.
Diversity for Student Learning

 There will be subtitles on the video for students who are hard of hearing.
 If students are not able to cut the leaves using scissors, they will place an E in
Accommodations statement that corresponds to Executive Branch.

Modifications

Grouping Students: This is a whole group lesson.

Materials/Resources: • Smartboard
Attach a copy of all handouts • Executive Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
for your lesson. v=BWR2p9j9hWo&feature=emb_rel_err
• Three Branches of Government PowerPoint
• Social Studies notebook
• Glue
• Scissors
• Branches of Government Tree Worksheet
Educational Technology: •Smartboard
•Executive Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BWR2p9j9hWo&feature=emb_rel_err
•Three Branches of Government PowerPoint

USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19 Page 1 of 3

Pedagogical Strategies:
See the lesson plan guide for
suggested strategies. Attach
a copy of all activity sheet(s)
to your lesson plan.
Lesson Structure/
Procedures:
See the lesson plan guide for
step-by-step procedures.
Include:
 Launching the lesson
with a strong opening
 Opportunity for students
to explore
 Direct teaching
 Opportunity for students
to practice
 Assessment embedded
throughout the lesson
 A meaningful closure
Safety Considerations:
USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19
☐ Anticipation Guide ☐ Direct instruction/lecture ☐ Mnemonic device
☐ Brainstorming ☐ Demonstration ☐ Drawing/artwork
☐ Graphic organizer/concept map ☐ Hands-on manipulatives ☐ Movement
☒ Structured notetaking ☐ Small groups ☐ Music
☐ Analyze image, photo, or object ☐ Inquiry stations ☒ Video
☐ Annotate or highlight text ☐ Gallery Walk ☐ Roleplay
☐ Guided practice ☐ Turn & Talk ☐ Game
☐ Quick Writes ☐ Think-Pair-Share ☐ Project
☐ Inquiry Learning Cycle ☐ Other:
Visual stimulation encourages student interaction with content or a concept. It also creates a
bigger memory imprint in a student’s mind, making teaching with videos perfect for
information retention.
ENGAGE: (5 minutes)
 The teacher will begin the lesson by asking students “What do you know about the
Executive government?”
 The teacher will give the students 30 seconds to think and then pick two- three
students to tell the class what they know about the Executive Government.
 After the students answer the students will watch the video What is the Executive
Branch of the U.S. Government?
EXPLORE: (5 minutes)
 The teacher provided the students with a Branches of government tree to glue in
their Social Studies notebook for homework. The students will open that page in
their notebooks.
 When the teacher is done with the PowerPoint two students will be chosen to pass
out the glue and scissors.
 The students will then have 5 minutes to cut out the leaves of that belong on the
Executive Branch of their Types of Government tree.
EXPLAIN: (15 minutes)
 After the students watch the video “What is the Executive Branch of the U.S.
Government” the teacher will pull up the Branches of Government PowerPoint a
scroll to the Executive Branch section.
 As a class the students and teacher will go through the PowerPoint.
EVALUATE: (10 minutes)
 When the students are done cutting the leaves to the tree the class will go over their
trees to make sure they chose the right leaves.
 The teacher should ask the question: “How did you know what leaves belonged to
the Executive Branch?”
 The following 5 leaves should be put on the Executive Branch:
1. This branch (the President) is in charge of our military.
2. This branch carries out the laws.
3. This branch includes the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.
4. The work of this branch is done in the White House.
5. Decisions by this branch have to be approved by Congress.
END: (5 minutes)
 After the class discusses which leave belongs on the Executive Branch the students
will get their Social Studies notebook, turn to the page with their Types of
government Tree and glue the corresponding leaves to the branch on the tree. (If
students finish early, they should independently read at their desk until it is time for
dismissal.)
All classroom rules apply.
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Follow Up: EXTEND:
If students can understand the Executive Branch the students will move onto the Judicial
Branch. For students who do not understand during independent reading time the teacher
will pull a small group and go over what the students do not understand.
Questioning: Knowledge and comprehension Application and analysis Creation and evaluation
What leaves go on the How did you know what
What do you know about the Executive branch? leaves belonged to the
Executive Branch? Executive Branch?

Linking Theory to Social cognitive theory: Learning occurs in a social context through observation,
Practice: imitation, and modeling (Bandura). Teachers focus on demonstration and repetition. 
See the lesson plan guide for The teacher is focusing on demonstrating and repeating the material in different
suggested theoretical
perspectives. The theory you
ways to make sure that the student has an understanding.
select should support the
teaching strategies and
groupings described in your
lesson plan.
Reference(s):  NationalConstitution.gov: PowerPoint
 Executive Branch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BWR2p9j9hWo&feature=emb_rel_err

USC Aiken Lesson Plan Template, updated 8-22-19 Page 3 of 3