Project

Adam Vollrath

Government Chart

NCSS Standard:  #6

Performance Expectations:  e.  identify and describe the basic features of the political system in the United States, and identify representative leaders from various levels and branches of government;

Results:

Students will:

1.  Examine their city, state, and federal governments, indicate several leaders of each, and be able to decribe the basic features of each.

2.  Students will sketch a chart of their city, state, or federal government indicating five leaders, what they do, and how that level of government gets things accomplished.

3.  Students will be actively involved in the jigsaw activity where they will teach other classmates about their level of government.

Evaluation/Assessment:

1.  Each student will draw a chart of one of the three levels of government. 

~The chart will indicate who the leaders are and what their job is.

~Below the chart the student will draw a picture showing what he or she can do as a citizen to become involved with politics.

~The chart must be neat and well proportioned.

~The student must be active in the jigsaw activity.

2.  Short quiz

~Students will be quized on each level of government.

~Only a couple basic questions will be asked regarding each level.

~Students will be required to know onw leader from each level.

Curriculum:

This project will be given to middle school students.  This will give students a basic idea of how each level of government works and will give the students the confidence they need to become involved civically.

Instruction:

1.  Students will go to www.Whitehouse.gov/ to research the federal government for 3 day in the media center.  Students who are researching local and state governments will go to http://www.senate.mn/publications/kidsguide.pdf for their information.

2.  For one class hour the students will construct their chart.  If there is not enough time to finish during class it will be homework for that night.

3.  The fifth and final day the students will get in groups of three and perform a jigsaw activity.

~Each student will take time teaching the other two about their level of government.

~With the remaining time the entire class will hold a group brainstorm/discussion on how they think they can become more involved with politics and their community.

The charts will be hung in the room as reminders to be as involved with your community as possible.