Social Studies Lesson Plan Template

Group Members/Group Name: Janessa Carratala

Thematic Unit Theme/Title/Grade Level: Second Grade
Group Weebly space address: https://janessathreebranches.weebly.com/
Daily Lesson Plan Day/Title: _Day Two: Why Is Government Important?
Lesson Length: 35 Minutes

Rationale for Instruction Without the government, we would not have the laws and regulations that are what keep America in check. But mostly,
A rationale is an essential part of without the government there would be no structure in this country, and it’s why we must educate ourselves & our children
thoughtful planning of classroom on why government plays a very important part in the American structure.
instruction. This is a brief written
statement of the purpose for instruction
and the connection of the purpose to
instruction that has come before and will
follow.
NCSS Theme/Next
Generation Sunshine State NCSS Themes:
Standards/Common Core Power, Authority, & Governance: Understanding the development of structures of power, authority, & governance & their
Standards (LAFS/MAFS) evolving functions is essential for the emergence of civic competence.
List each standard that will be addressed
during the lesson. Cutting and pasting
- SS.3.C.1.In.a: Recognize the purpose of government in the community, such as to provide laws, services, and safety.
from the website is allowed. You must
have a minimum of 3 standards that
represent multiple content areas identified - LAFS.3.RI.3.AP.7a: Use illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) in informational texts to answer questions.
in this portion of the lesson plan.

These can be downloaded from the

Florida Dept of Education
www.cpalms.org/homepage/index.aspx.
Learning Objectives The students will be able to know and explain why we form governments. Not only will they be able to identify their purpose,
What will students know and be able to but also understand why each are so important.
do at the end of this lesson? Be sure to set
significant (related to NGSS Themes, ESOL/ELL students will revisit the scholastic book to review what they learned about the branches and using key words they
CCSS, and NGSSS), challenging, will be able to match the key words to the purpose of each branch.
measurable and appropriate learning
goals!
The students will learn how to recognize the purpose of rules and laws (government) in the home, school, and community,
such as to promote safety, order, and good citizenship.

ESOL/ELL students will to able to make a connection with rules at home with rules at school and why we have them.

Modified 2/18 – Van De Mark from document created by L. Spaulding

 Social Studies Lesson Plan Template
Student Activities & As the students clamor into the classroom, they will notice a few questions written on the white board at the front of the
Procedures class. These questions will serve as a review from what they learned yesterday and will help push us through into the next
portion of the lesson.
Design for Instruction
What best practice strategies will be
The students will take out their writing journals, and on the next available sheet will, in complete sentences, complete the
implemented?
How will you communicate student
questions written on the board. They will work individually on this assignment for the first 20 minutes of class.
expectation? (ESOL/ELL Students: the students will be instructed to grab their journals from their desks and gather around the back table
What products will be developed and as they did the day before. They will sit together and by revisiting the Scholastic book, they will be asked to name each fo the
created by students? branches. They will also be asked to define government in their own words.)
Consider Contextual Factors (learning
differences/learning environment) that Once the first 20 are through and all the students have finished, they will be instructed to put away their journals and
may be in place in your classroom. prepare for the next portion of the lesson

Activity: We Present Tim & Moby; The Tim & Moby videos have been used back when I was in elementary school and
always found them to be very fun, entertaining and educational. As a class, we will watch the video and the students will be
able to learn about the branches of government through the fun, funny and charming styles of the Tim & Moby series. The
goal is to be able to capture their attention in different ways as opposed to the same textbook lessons.
(ESOL/ELL Students: the students will be able to watch the video along with the class and will be able to participate in the
games given after the video.)

Activity: It’s All Fun & Games; Once the students have watched the video, they will take turns in a set of groups in a
rotation; as one group sits at the computer to play the games pertaining to the video, the other students will sit at their desks
with their class tablets and complete the mapping activity also pertaining to the video. After about 15, the groups will rotate
and take turns playing the games & completing their maps to be turned in by the end of the lesson.
(ESOL/ELL Students: The students will work together to help each other complete the mapping assignment, they may choose
to sit at their desks or at the back table to sit as a group. Once it is time for rotation, they will take turns partaking in the
online games.)

The children have just come back from their lunchtime; during which time they have been able to focus on other things, think
about other things, and possibly may or may not have forgotten some of the new information given to them.

Activity: Time to Review; The students will return to their desks and will look at the board to see review questions on the
board;

1. What Is the Judicial Branch?

2. What is the Legislative Branch?
3. What is the Executive Branch?
4. Why are they important?

They will then pull out their composition notebook, and turn to a blank page where they will, in a complete sentence, answer
the questions and will have 25 minutes to complete them. They will be expected to explain what each branch is and sum up
why they are all important.

Modified 2/18 – Van De Mark from document created by L. Spaulding

 Social Studies Lesson Plan Template
(ESOL/ELL Students: The students will be brought into the back of the classroom, and they will be reshown the Scholastic
book; then, they will be asked what each branch is. The teacher will point to each photo being used to represent the
branches, and the students will be responsible for writing down what each one is. They will also use key words to identify the
importance of each one.

Assessment Unit Pre-Assessment:

How will student learning be assessed? - The students will use their journals to answer questions about each branch, and once they have all completed the
Authentic/Alternative assessments? questions they will be discussed.
Does your assessment align with your 1. What are the names of each branch of government?
objectives, standards and procedures? 2. What is government?
Informal assessment (multiple modes): 3. Why are they important?
participation rubrics, journal entries,
collaborative planning/presentation Unit Post-Assessment:
notes
- In their own words, the students will write in their journal what they believe each branch is what purpose they
serve.
1. What is the Judicial Branch?
2. What is the Legislative Branch?
3. What is the Executive Branch?
4. What is their purpose?

Daily Lesson Plan Assessment:

- Informal discussion prior to activities and throughout lesson.
- Use of technology with Brain POP videos.
- Using games and electronic mapping with interactive web tools.
- Journal entries complete individually.

.
Resources/Materials Informational Video:
- https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/thelaw/branchesofgovernment/

Interactive Games:
- https://www.brainpop.com/games/game-finder/?game_keyword=topic:%20Branches%20of%20Government

Mapping Tool:
- https://www.brainpop.com/make-a-map/?topic=/socialstudies/thelaw/branchesofgovernment/

Modified 2/18 – Van De Mark from document created by L. Spaulding

 Social Studies Lesson Plan Template
Exceptionalities ESOL; Students with Learning Differences:
What accommodations or modifications
do you make for ESOL, Gifted/Talented ESOL Students: The students will be given a separate set of questions and will work on it individually as best as they can.
students, Learning/Reading disabilities,
etc. As the students complete their journals for the post test, they will meet again in the back & together we will be reshown the
Scholastic book & using the pictures they will try to identify which branch is which.
These accommodations and/or
modifications should be listed within the
procedures section of the lesson plan as Gifted/Talented:
well as in this section of the document. The gifted students will be able to analyze the information using context and vocabulary. They will be able to also gain more
access to higher level of understanding and will still be able to interact with the activities in the classroom especially the
voting activity. They will also ask higher level questions
Additional Comments and
Notes

Modified 2/18 – Van De Mark from document created by L. Spaulding