Lesson by Sergio de Alba
Essay by Linda R. Monk, JD
Grade Level: 3–8
Number of Class Periods: 3–4
About This Lesson Plan Unit
Over the course of four lessons, students will read Articles I, II, and III of the US Constitution and Federalist No. 51 and complete exercises that will help them learn about the three branches of the federal government, the balance of power, and the system of checks and balances. The students will participate in activities and class discussions that will advance historical literacy and critical thinking skills.
Lesson Plan Author: Sergio de Alba
Historical Background Essay by: Linda R. Monk, JD
Additional Information About This Unit
Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.9: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1.A: Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1.C: Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4: Determine the meanings of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
What are the three branches of the US government?
What are each branch’s responsibilities?
How is the system of checks and balances supposed to work?
Documents
Documents
US Constitution, September 17, 1787
James Madison, Federalist No. 51, February 8, 1788