Describe the organizational structure and powers of the national government as defined in Articles I, II and III of the U.S. Constitution.
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| Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: Themes of the Grand Convention (Constitutional Convention) | This is lesson # 9 in the text unit for Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. The lesson focuses on planning an expository essay after reading and annotating the second text The Bill of Rights: A Transcription. The lesson utilizes an essay planning template to help students organize the details from each text to support a common theme/central idea shared between the two texts. As an extension, students can draft the essay or turn the planning notes into a presentation using digital programs. This lesson will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen states and important historical figures present during the creation, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions.
The lessons in this text-based unit will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.
This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource. |
| Checks and Balances - Why and How? | In this lesson plan, students will review the three branches of government as outlined by the U.S. Constitution. Following the review, the students will get a chance to role-play the system of checks and balances to apply the principles of the Constitution to protect citizens from outlandish laws. |
| Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution: The 3 Branches of Government | This is lesson # 2 in the text unit series for Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz. After the class reads pgs 14-21 in whole group, students will complete a graphic organizer to identify and describe the structure and functions of the three different branches of government. Students will then summarize using their graphic organizer including the central idea and relevant details of the text.
This unit will help students understand why and how the Constitution was created, including: the thirteen colonies and important historical figures present during the creation, the challenges and conflicts that state representatives faced during writing the Constitution, motifs and themes during the “Grand Convention,” and the relationship between state and national constitutions. Lessons will allow students to identify citizens’ civic duties outlined by the Constitution, the relationship between the federal and state Constitutions, and important historical symbols. Each part of the unit will include an in-depth dive into vocabulary and how it applies to the meaning of the text.
This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource. |
| Who Represents Florida? - The Senate | In this lesson plan, students will review the legislative branch and learn about the history of the Senate. Students will look at the term length of senators, as well as the duties and authority of the Senate. Students will then identify 4 senators that have represented and served Florida at the national level, across the course of history, through the development and completion of a timeline.
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| Sorting the Branches of Government | Students will use the provided interactive research guide to identify and sort the three branches of government. |
| The Three Branches of Government | In this student-guided presentation on the three branches of government, students will evaluate the choices and impacts of those choices made in the U.S. Constitution that provide the structure, power, and functions of the federal government. |
| Our Government is Branching Out | In this lesson plan, students will be introduced to how the U.S. structures its government into three branches and what each branch’s basic functions are. |
| Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood? Finding Your Elected Officials | In this lesson, students will use the U.S. Constitution and their web searching skills to determine the constitutional qualifications for office, term length, authority, duties, activities, compensation, and names of elected officials for Florida and their district. |
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| The Verdict Is In: The U.S. Court System | Explore the court system and the role it plays in interpreting law and settling conflicts in this interactive tutorial. Learn why the U.S. Supreme Court is the most powerful in the U.S. court system, and they'll explain why the United States and the State of Florida both have supreme courts. |
| The Three Branches of Government | Learn about the structure and functions of the three branches of the U.S. federal government, including the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches, with this interactive tutorial. |
| The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights | Learn about the history and background of the U.S. Constitution and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights safeguards our rights and liberties in this interactive tutorial. |
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| Grade 5 Civics Family Guide: Standard 3 | This Grade 5 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 3 at this grade level. |
| Who Are the People? Finding Your Elected Representative | This PowerPoint slideshow is designed to support teachers in delivering direct instruction on Florida’s national representation, including determining the constitutional qualifications for office, term length, authority, duties, activities, compensation, and names of elected officials for Florida and their district. Students will also determine the best approach toward contacting elected officials. The accompanying guided notes can be completed by students during instruction. |
| Name |
Description |
| The Verdict Is In: The U.S. Court System: | Explore the court system and the role it plays in interpreting law and settling conflicts in this interactive tutorial. Learn why the U.S. Supreme Court is the most powerful in the U.S. court system, and they'll explain why the United States and the State of Florida both have supreme courts. |
| The Three Branches of Government: | Learn about the structure and functions of the three branches of the U.S. federal government, including the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches, with this interactive tutorial. |
| The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights: | Learn about the history and background of the U.S. Constitution and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights safeguards our rights and liberties in this interactive tutorial. |
