The Three Branches and Policy-Making

In this 90 minute lesson, students will develop SEL skills such as self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills while also learning how each of the three branches of government creates policy. The lesson opens with an exercise that checks for students’ prior knowledge regarding the creation of laws and public policy in U.S. government. Next, the students will learn how to take notes using the two-column note taking method. The students will independently read a passage about how the legislative branch creates public policy while completing a two-column note graphic organizer. Then, they will meet with a partner to compare and contrast their notes. They will repeat this process for the executive and judicial branches. At the end of class, students will individually complete an exit ticket that assesses their acquisition of content knowledge, as well as requires them to reflect on their conduct during partner work. All answer keys and resources for differentiation are included. This lesson is aligned to the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies and the Ohio State Content Standards for American Government.