UNIT X 154 | UNIT 4 A Read the informational text. The federal government is the central government of the United States. It has three parts. They are called branches. Each branch has different responsibilities. The federal government is located in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., is the capital city of the United States. The Federal Government The legislative branch is Congress and its members. Congress has two sections: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress makes laws. Members of Congress are called senators and representatives. They represent their states. They work in the US Capitol Building. The executive branch is the president and cabinet. The president is the leader of the country. The cabinet works with the president. The president and cabinet work in the White House. The Three Branches of the Federal Government What are the branches of the US government? ? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CONNECT TO Social Studies UNIT 4 154 CON22_3_SE_U04_154-155_CSS.indd 154 30/10/2020 13:47 Instructional Routine: Social Studies p. Txxxi The Federal Government • Build content vocabulary Assess students’ understanding of the term federal government. If necessary, explain that the federal government is a group of people who work together to keep the country running smoothly for the good of everyone in the country. Point out that federal refers to the country rather than the state or community. On the board, draw a web with federal government in the center circle and three circles branching out from it. Display an image of a tree with branches. Point to the tree and say: This tree has branches as you trace the branches with your finger. Say: Our government also has branches. What do you think branches of the government means? (parts of the government) Essential Question: What are the branches of the US government? Read aloud the Essential Question and ask students to share what they know about the government. Write responses on the board and tell students that they will revisit the question after reading the text. A The Three Branches of the Federal Government • Understand genre Tell students that this is an informational text. Ask them to share what they know about informational texts. (They give information about a topic.) • Use text structure to predict Preview the text with students. Ask them to point out the text structure. Direct students’ attention to the three sections and connect this structure to the title. Say: This text is broken into three sections. Look at the title. What do you think each section is about? Help students to understand that each section will be about one branch of the government. • Listen actively Play the audio of the text as students follow along. Tell students to track the words as they hear them. • Match words to text Refer to the Essential Question. Ask: What are the three branches of the US government? Replay the audio, this time asking students to find specific information that answers the question. (legislative, executive, judicial) Write these three terms in the three circles in your web. EXPLORE AND LEARN PRACTICE UNIT 4 / CONNECT TO SOCIAL STUDIES DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION Scaffold Guide students to create vocabulary cards for each branch of government. Cards should include the term, a definition or description, and a visual that shows its meaning. Have students refer to these cards as resources during the activities. Amplify Extend Provide students access to information about the structure of their community’s local government, such as a mayor and city council. Have students work together in pairs or small groups to read the information and create a poster. Have groups present their posters to the whole class.
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