Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: The Three Branches

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd

Content Standard Addressed:

SS3CG1 Describe the elements of representative democracy/republic in the United States.

1. Describe the three branches of national government: executive (president), legislative

(Congress), and judicial (Supreme Court of the United States).

Technology Standard Addressed: 3- Knowledge Constructer

Selected Technology Tool: Popplet

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): popplet.com

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☒ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

• Provide options for perception

• Provide options for comprehension
• Provide options for expression and communication
• Provide options for recruiting interest

Lesson idea implementation:

Teacher will begin lesson by asking the students what they already know about the United States government
and how it works. The teacher will explain that we have three branches of government, but it is their
responsibility to research what they are and what their function is and input that information into a Popplet.
Teacher will show students what the teachers Popplet looks like, allowing the students to have a visual of
what their end product should look like. The teacher will then go over the appropriate sites that can be used
to find information on the three branches of government.

Students will then create their own Popplet from what they have researched and enter the information in
their Popplet. When finished, the students will share their Popplet with the other students in the classroom.
This task will take place in 30 minute periods over 3 days. Students will be assessed by the content included in
their Popplet such as having the correct name for three branches and correct description of their function.
Student learning can be extended in the amount of research the students do. If curious, students can research

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 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
the people who hold positions in each branch of government. Feedback will be given to students individually
with a grade for the information provided on their Popplet.

Reflective Practice: With this lesson, I feel as though students are encouraged to act as a teacher when they
are asked to research the three branches. In doing this, students are using higher order thinking skills by
applying what they are learning and creating something new. This lesson could be extended by having the
students publish their Popplet to other grades in their school, or even publish outside of their school.

Spring 2018_SJB