The 3 Branches of Government

Chris Florez

EdTech 574 - Spring ‘08

1 Overview 3

2 Program Description 3

3 Organization 4

4 Navigational Flowchart 5

5 Storyboard 6-32

6 Links & Resources 33

1 Overview

Program Title:
The 3 Branches of Government

Grade level(s):
Middle School

Major Goal:
Students will be able to identify The 3 Branches of Government and their role(s) in how a Bill becomes a Law

Amount of Time to Learn the Content:
50 minutes

System Requirements:
Please see this link for extensive information on system requirements.

2 Program Description

This Flash-based, interactive tool introduces middle school students to “The 3 Branches of the United States Government” that create the governing body of policy and laws as set forth in the Constitution of the United States.

A focal point for “real-world” understanding will be on “How a Bill Becomes a Law.” This example will allow students to see the interconnectedness of each of the three branches and how each branch’s decisions and actions play a part in the overall success and governance of the law.

Additionally, the structure of the tutorial is non-linear (branching), so that students may visit sections (topics) that specifically apply to their immediate learning choices, affording them opportunities to make their own connections to each of the respective categories (branches of government).

Interactive components include hyperlinks, a video clip, music introduction, and an interactive assessment with a reporting slide.

3 Organization

Characteristics of Target Learners:

This Flash-based, interactive tool will introduce middle school students (11-13) to the Three Branches of the United States Government that, together, create the governing body of policy and laws as set forth in the Constitution of the United States. This will serve as an introduction to a unit on the Three Branches of Government, upon assessing previous familiarity with the subject matter.

All students are proficient in the navigation and usability of hyperlinks and multimedia on the Internet. As such, this module will present them with a familiar set of left-justified navigational options that include referenced and embedded features within each section.

Students’ reading abilities range from 5th – 10th grade. As such, the written text within the module is adjusted, accordingly, to optimize the user experience.

Instructional objectives:

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to name the 3 Branches of Government, students will be able to identify them with 100% accuracy: Executive, Legislative, Judicial

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to list the number of U.S. Supreme Court Justices, students will be able to do so with 100% accuracy: 9

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to list the two Chambers of Congress in the Legislative Branch, students will be able to identify them with 100% accuracy: The Senate & The House of Representatives

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to identify the branch of government that governs laws, students will be able to identify it with 100% accuracy: Judicial

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to name what it is called when the President denies making a Bill into a Law, students will be able to identify it with 100% accuracy: Veto

· When asked on the post-instructional assessment to describe the process of how a Bill becomes a Law, students will be able to do so by describing, at minimum, the following: Only Members of Congress (Legislative Branch) can introduce a Bill. Committee members vote to accept or reject the Bill, once it is introduced. If voted-on to proceed in the House of Representatives, the Bill goes to the Senate. If the Bill passes in the Senate, it goes to the President of the United States in the Executive Branch. The President can either sign the Bill into Law or veto the Bill and send it back to Congress for changes. Once the changes are made, it follows the same process to go back to the President to be made into a Law. Once a Law, it is governed by the Judicial Branch.

4 Navigational Flowchart

5 Storyboard

Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 1 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: H
This is the Home slide for the project/module.
When the project/module starts, music fades in-and-out for 15 seconds to set a “formal” tone for the activities.
MULTIMEDIA: Horns.mp3 Audio (15 seconds)
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 2 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A
This is the “About” page for the module. It explains why and by whom the project was created.
Additionally, it contains brief instructions about the objectives & content contained within.
A link to the Reference slide is listed in the bottom-right corner.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 3 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: R
This is the References & Resources slide, as linked from the About slide.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 4 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: E1
This is the first of two slides for the “Executive Branch.”
It provides an overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Executive Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “Bill” “ Law” and “Veto.”
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 5 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: E2
This is the second of two slides for the “Executive Branch.”
It concludes the overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Executive Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “Bill” “ Law” and “Veto.”
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 6 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: L1
This is the first of four slides for the “Legislative Branch.”
It includes an overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Legislative Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “ Law” “Veto” “Representative” and “Senate.”
Emphasis is on the House of Representatives.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 7 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: L2
This is the second of four slides for the “Legislative Branch.”
It includes an overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Legislative Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “ Law” “Veto” “Representative” and “Senate.”
Emphasis is on the Senate.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 8 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: L3
This is the third of four slides for the “Legislative Branch.”
It includes an overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Legislative Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “ Law” “Veto” “Representative” and “Senate.
Emphasis is on the role of the Legislative branch in a Bill becoming a Law.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 9 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: L4
This is the fourth of four slides for the “Legislative Branch.”
It includes an overview of the branch, with an emphasis on the role of the Legislative Branch in a bill becoming a law.
Integrated in Executive Branch slides are key words such as “ Law” “Veto” “Representative” and “Senate.”
MULTIMEDIA: Schoolhouse Rock.flv “I’m Just a Bill” Video (3 minutes)
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 11 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: J
This is the slide for the Judicial branch.
This slide covers elements specific to the Judicial Branch, including Supreme Court appointments, how Laws can be changed, and a reference external link to the “Civil Rights Act of 1964” to demonstrate a Bill that became a Law and is governed by the Judicial Branch.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 12 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: AIN
This is introductory slide for the Assessment section, explaining what do for the section.
This slide provides information on the number of questions (5) in the multiple-choice assessment, as well as providing instructions for downloading an accompanying short answer assessment on the last slide of the Assessment section.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 13 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A1
This is the 1st question for the multiple-choice part of Assessment section.
This 1st question asks students to correctly select “The 3 Branches of Government.”
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 14 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A1W
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 1st question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 2nd question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 15 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A1R
This is the slide students see, upon correctly answering the 1st question.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 2nd question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 16 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A2
This is the 2nd question for the multiple-choice part of Assessment section.
This 2nd question asks students to correctly lists the number of United States Supreme Court Justices.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 17 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A2W
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 2nd question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 3rd question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 18 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A2R
This is the slide students see, upon correctly answering the 2nd question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 3rd question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 19 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A3
This is the 3rdquestion for the multiple-choice part of Assessment section.
This 3rd question asks students to correctly list the Two Chambers of the Legislative Branch.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 20 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A3W
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 3rd question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 4th question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 21 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A3R
This is the slide students see, upon correctly answering the 3rd question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 4th question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 22 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A4
This is the 4th question for the multiple-choice part of Assessment section.
This 4th question asks students to correctly list what it is called when the President does not sign a Bill into Law.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 23 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A4W
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 4th question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 5th question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 24 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A4R
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 4th question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the 5th question (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 25 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A5
This is the 5th question for the multiple-choice part of Assessment section.
This 5th question asks students to correctly list which of “The 3 Branches of Government” governs Laws.
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 26 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A5W
This is the slide students see, upon not correctly answering the 5th question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the Conclusion slide (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 27 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: A5R
This is the slide students see, upon correctly answering the 5th question. Any response, other than the correct one directs them to this slide.
From this slide, students can either “quit” or move on to the Conclusion slide (next).
Unit Title: U.S. Government Page: 28 of 28 Date: 3/24/08
Lesson Title: The 3 Branches of Government
Frame #: C
This is the final slide of the Assessment section. Here, students see a generated report on the number of questions that correctly answered and their percentage score.
Additionally, students download the short answer document to complete the Assessment portion of this introductory module.

6 Links & Resources