Students explore the three branches of the U.S. government and discover why the power to run the country is split into three — so no single part can become too powerful.
Students will be able to…
Running a whole country is a huge job. Why does the United States split that job into three separate branches instead of giving it to one person?
Project this and tap each branch. Have students record what each one does and who leads it.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Should one person run the whole country?
Students investigate the Branches Explorer.
Students analyze roles.
Students conclude with scenarios.
Students represent the branches.
Aligned to the C3 Framework for Social Studies and Common Core literacy in social studies.
Distinguish the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches.
Explain how groups of people make rules to create responsibilities and protect freedoms.
Explain how a democracy relies on people’s responsible participation.
Use information gained from illustrations and words to demonstrate understanding.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students set up a mini class government with a group that makes rules, one that carries them out, and one that settles disputes — then reflect on how the three worked together. A printable setup guide is in the Social Studies library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.