Branches of the Government Part 1 of 3: Judicial Branch

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

2

Overview

This learning activity introduces students to the Judicial Branch of the Government.  After the activity, students will be able to recognize the basic principles established in the Judicial Branch of Government. In closing, students will design a poster with a minimum of 3 facts about the Judicial Branch of Government.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Phase

Before/Engage
During/Explore/Explain
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 2

SS10.2.1

Relate principles of American democracy to the founding of the nation.

UP:SS10.2.1

Vocabulary

  • relate
  • American
  • democracy
  • identify
  • settlement
  • recognize
  • principles
  • executive
  • legislative
  • judicial
  • demonstrate
  • political parties
  • utilize
  • democratic values

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Reasons for the settlement of the thirteen colonies the voting process.
  • The three branches of government and how they were established.
  • The roles of major political parties within the voting process. School and classroom rules.
  • Democratic values as expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Vocabulary: American democracy, founding of the nation, settlement, thirteen colonies, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, government, executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, voting process, election, political parties, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, rules, democratic values

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze a primary document.
  • Relate the founding of our nation to American democracy.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Declaration of Independence.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Constitution of the United States.
  • Describe the establishment of the three branches of government.
  • Recognize the roles of the major political parties in the voting process.
  • Utilize school and classroom rules.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Democracy is the principle on which our nation was founded.

Learning Objectives

The students will recognize the basic principles established through the Judicial Branch of the Government.

Activity Details

  • Place students with their assigned partner and pass out the electronic devices.
  • Begin by asking the essential question...What makes up the Judicial Branch of the Government? (Allow students to turn to their partner and have a discussion.)
  • Bring the class back to whole group and have a class discussion on what makes up the Judicial Branch of the government. (Answers should include: judges and courts.) 
  • Next, tell the students they will be researching the Judicial Branch of the government.
  • Instruct the students to go the following link: https://www.ducksters.com/ history/us_judicial_branch.php (The teacher will have the link pulled up.)
  • Students may choose to read or listen (with earbuds, headphones, etc.) to the article. If the students choose to listen to the article, they will need to scroll to the bottom of the article.
  • After all the groups have read or listened to the Judicial Branch, use this online Quiz to measure students' comprehension of the Judicial Branch of the Government.
  • Finally, pass out card stock paper to each group and instruct the students to create a poster with a minimum of 3 principles established through the Judicial Branch of Government. (Encourage the students to be creative with their posters).
  • The teacher will use the poster to assess the students understanding of the Judicial Branch of Government.

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will assess the students through group discussions and the completed posters on the 3 principles established through the Judicial Branch of Government.  

Variation Tips

  • The students could present the posters to the class.
  • Keep the posters and make a display when all 3 branches of the government have been taught.
  • The teacher can have students take the Quiz for a grade instead of using it as a group discussion.

Background / Preparation

The teacher will need to have the following materials ready:

  • The teacher should have the Judicial Branch link pulled up and ready to use.
  • Students should be in groups of 2.
  • Card stock for each group
  • Markers, crayons, colored pencils 
  • Electronic devices
  • Earbuds, headphones, etc.
  • Students need a general understanding of the jobs of the US Government.
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