Title Our Government Branches Authors

Our Branches of Government

A WebQuest for 3rd Grade

By Carolyn Muro and Suzy Le May

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The United States is set up with a special set of government branches. We have the Legislative, Executive, and the Judicial branches that work together to keep our country running. Why do we have three separate branches and how do they work?

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Task

The President of the United States needs your help. He would like to have a kid friendly brochure to explain the three branches of our government to other school children just like you. However, with all his other duties he doesn't have the time to make the brochure himself. Can you help?

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Process

1. You will work with a partner to complete this project.

2. First print out the Worksheet.

3. With a partner, search the internet on the sites provided in the resource section.

4. Look for information to answer the questions on the note-taking sheet.

4. Fill in the information you find in the correct column.

5. Create the brochure:

Summarize the important information for each governmental branch so that it will fit on the brochure.
Your brochure will need to be divided into three sections. One section for each government branch. Each section needs to have a picture and be clearly labeled.
Be sure the answers for all three questions from the note-taking sheet are included in each section of the brochure.
The front of the brochure needs to have a title, picture(s), and names of the group members.

6. Share your brochure with another group and evaluate each others brochure. Use the grading rubric to access.

7. Fix any problems that were found in the group evaluation.

8. Turn your completed brochure in.

http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/students/misc.asp?printable=True

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/exec.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/judg.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/legi.html

http://www.voteutah.org/learning/government/three_branches.html#legislative

After completing your brochure it will be scored by using the following rubric. You must also turn in your note-taking sheet with your brochure.

Brochure Rubric

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Writing - Organization	Each section in the brochure has a clear beginning, middle, and end.	Almost all sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.	Most sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.	Less than half of the sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.
Writing - Grammar	There are no grammatical mistakes in the brochure.	There are no grammatical mistakes in the brochure after feedback from an adult.	There are 1-2 grammatical mistakes in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.	There are several grammatical mistakes in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.
Spelling & Proofreading	No spelling errors remain after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	No more than 1 spelling error remains after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	No more than 3 spelling errors remain after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	Several spelling errors in the brochure.
Writing - Mechanics	Capitalization and punctuation are correct throughout the brochure.	Capitalization and punctuation are correct throughout the brochure after feedback from an adult.	There are 1-2 capitalization and/or punctuation errors in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.	There are several capitalization or punctuation errors in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.
Content - Accuracy	All facts in the brochure are accurate.	99-90% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.	89-80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.	Fewer than 80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.
Attractiveness & Organization	The brochure has exceptionally attractive formatting and well-organized information.	The brochure has attractive formatting and well-organized information.	The brochure has well-organized information.	The brochure's formatting and organization of material are confusing to the reader.
Knowledge Gained	All students in the group can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the brochure and fill out the crossword.	All students in the group can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the brochure and fill out the crossword.	Most students in the group can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the brochure and fill out the crossword.	Several students in the group appear to have little knowledge about the facts or be able to fill out the crossword.
Graphics/Pictures	Graphics go well with the text and there is a good mix of text and graphics.	Graphics go well with the text, but there are so many that they distract from the text.	Graphics go well with the text, but there are too few and the brochure seems "text-heavy".	Graphics do not go with the accompanying text or appear to be randomly chosen.

Congratulations, you are now experts on the three branches of the United States Government. The President will be very relieved to get your brochure to help other children around the country.