Three-Ring Government
Created By:
Kathy Lowe
Title/Role:
Executive Director
Organization/School Name:
Massachusetts School Library Association
Location:
Massachusetts
Grade Level:
3 Type of Lesson:
Stand-alone lesson Type of Schedule:
Combination Collaboration Continuum:
Limited Content Area:
Social studies Content Topic:
Branches of the U.S. Government Scenario:
Third grade teachers have informed the school librarian that they are ready to begin their annual unit on the U. S. government. The teachers want their students to be able to name the three branches of government, the officials, and the responsibilities of each branch. They have requested that the librarian, as he has done in previous years, introduce the unit to the students with the Schoolhouse Rock song and video, Three-Ring Government. During their weekly 40-minute library class, the librarian guides the students in listening and watching for these facts. Each student, with assistance from the librarian, fills in a graphic organizer matching the name of each branch with its officials and major responsibilities. The librarian also prepares a display of books related to the topic, both fiction and nonfiction, that the students may browse and/or borrow during their 10-minute book-selection time at the end of the class. The third grade teachers continue with further instruction in their classrooms. In subsequent, specially arranged library visits, the librarian assists students in selecting resources for assignments on this topic. Overview:
In social studies class, third grade students identify the structure of the federal government and describe the roles and responsibilities of government officials. The essential question framing the unit is: How is our government organized? Final Product:
Students complete a graphic organizer matching the names of the three branches of the federal government with the officials and major responsibilities of each branch. Library Lesson:
Students will learn to listen and watch for information, then record and categorize it using a graphic organizer. Estimated Lesson Time:
30 minutes Have you taught this lesson before:
No