Us Government Lesson Plan for 12th Grade Students

Topic: The development of the United States government

 

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the development of the United States government from its inception to the present day, including its legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Materials

• Textbook or other materials for reading
• Handouts or slides related to the topic
• Pen and paper for taking notes

Warm-up

• Ask students what they know about the United States government.
• Write their answers on the board and discuss as a class.
• Ask students what they think the duties of each branch of the government are.

Direct Instruction

• Distribute the handouts with information about the three branches of government.
• Review the information as a class, clarifying any misunderstandings.
• Ask students to think about how the different branches of government interact with each other to make decisions and implement policies.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups.
• Give each group one of the branch of government handouts and ask them to identify the specific functions of that branch.
• Have each group share their answers with the class, discussing how the functions of each branch contribute to the overall function of the US government.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose one branch of government to research in depth.
• Ask them to write a brief report on the functions of their chosen branch, including any specific responsibilities or duties.
• Encourage students to use the resources provided (e.g. textbooks, online resources, textbooks) and to cite any sources they use.

Closure

• Review the purpose and functions of each of the three branches of government.
• Ask students to share their findings from their independent research projects and discuss any questions or concerns they have about their selected branches.

Assessment:

• Observe students during the group discussion activity and give feedback on their understanding of the purpose and functions of each of the three branches of government.
• Collect and grade the independent research projects, using a rubric or checklist to assess students' knowledge of the selected branch of government and their ability to provide a clear and detailed description of its purpose and functions.