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?
What Are the Duties of the 3
Branches Outlined in the US
Constitution?
What is the Purpose of the
Checks and Balances?
Historical Sources
A. 3 Branches of Government
Graphic
B. K12 Reader Document:
Branches of Government
C. Cabinet Duties
Historical Sources
A. Article I of the Constitution
(excerpt)
B. Article II of the Constitution
(excerpt)
C. Article III of the Constitution
(excerpt)
Historical Sources
A. Checks and Balances
excerpt
B. Excerpt from James
Madison Biography
C. Checks and Balances
Chart
D. Establishment of Cabinet
Formative Performance Task I
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.
Formative Performance Task II
Use the evidence in each
Constitution Article to determine
any overlaps and or connections to
duties between the branches.
Formative Performance Task III
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:K12Reader
SOURCE B
SUPPORTING QUESTION 1
http://www.ducksters.com/history/us_cabinet.php
SOURCE C
SUPPORTING QUESTION 1
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
SOURCE D
SUPPORTING QUESTION 2
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3948
SOURCE A
SUPPORTING QUESTION 2
SOURCE B
SUPPORTING QUESTION 2
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3948
SOURCE C
SUPPORTING QUESTION 3
http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_checksandbalances.htm
SOURCE A
SUPPORTING QUESTION 3
Read this excerpt from a biography of James Madison
SOURCE B
SUPPORTING QUESTION 3
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/10203536631075267/
SOURCE C