55 Minute Lesson Plan

Amber Barlow
American Government/Grade 12
03/04/15
Separation of Powers

Objective: Students will be able to analyze the Constitution of the United States by outlining the
articles of the Constitution.
SSHS-S3C2-02
Strand 3.2: Civics/Government
Concept 2: Structure of Government:
PO 2: Analyze the creation of United States Constitution:
c. Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances

Auditory Signal:
The instructor will use the auditory signal 1-2-3 Eyes on Me to get 100% compliance with the
students.

Anticipatory Set:
Think about what you already know about the U.S. government. What is a government position
that you can name? Write your answer on your whiteboard. Show your whiteboards and share
with the class what you came up with.

Information/Direct Instruction:
The instructor will go over the three different branches, the system of checks and balances, and
what powers belong to which branch.
Legislative: Lawmakers and Representatives, Examples: House and Senate.
Executive: Enforcers of laws, Examples: President, cabinet, federal agencies
Judicial: Interpreters of law, examples: Supreme Court/judges
Legislative: Declare war, put through bills, approve appointments

Executive: Veto bills, appoint Supreme Court Justices and cabinet members, executive order
Judicial: Overview legality of president and legislative actions

Activity: Four Corners

Students will be instructed which of the four corners represents the legislative, executive,
judicial, or none of the above branches and when it will be appropriate to move. Instructors will
give a power/responsibility of one of the branches, or a made up power, and the students will
move to the corner they think is correct for the power given. Instructor will ask random people
why they chose the corner they moved to, and ask others if they agree/have a different reason.

Check for Understanding:

Which corner is legislative, executive, judicial, or none of the above?
When can you change corners?

Information:
The instructor will now hold a lecture discussing the creation of the Constitution and WHY there
was a need of it and the three branches! We had the Articles of Confederation but we became
dissatisfied.
Who was the founding fathers? John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James
Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
Why did we create the Executive branch? We wanted a leader that was elected and not a
monarchy leader
Why did we create the Legislative branch? The founding fathers was afraid that the executive
branch will have too much power, didnt want a dictatorship/monarchy so they created the
legislative branch to check the Executive.
Why did we create the Judicial branch? The founding fathers created the third branch to settle
disputes the other two branches would have/had.

Guided Practice
In groups of 3, being drawn by popsicle sticks, the students will write down three major rules
every classroom should follow. (ex: All students respect other students) The instructor will walk
around and look at the proposed rules and after 10 minutes the students will present their three

rules and explain why they are important. The Instructor will write down the rules on a poster
board to display.
Independent Practice:
The students will be assigned to do some independent research, and to print an article about one
of the branches using one of their powers in this school year and write a brief one paged
summary on the article. They will describe which branch, power, and which other branches will
check this action in their summary. The article could be found online, in the newspaper, or on the
TV (the student will write down which channel/time they watched it).

Closure:
On a half sheet of paper, the students will summarize why the founding fathers felt there was a
need for the Constitution and what the system of checks and balances is in a few sentences.

Assessment:
Draw a line connecting the Article with the according branch:

1. Article 1
2. Article 2
3. Article 3

Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch

4. Short answer: In complete sentences, define the system of checks and balances.
__________________________________________________________________
5. Which branch is the President in?
A. Legislative

B. Executive

C. Judicial

D. Presidential

6. Who holds the power to declare war?

A. Congress

B. President

C. Supreme Court

D. Vice President

Fill in the blank:

7. Executive branch ______ the laws, the Judicial branch ________ the laws, and the Legislative branch
______ the laws.
Critical Thinking:
8. In complete sentences, do you believe some powers should be granted to a different branch? Explain
your reasoning.