Teacher Process
This Web Quest activity is intended for students in grades 3-5. The activities are designed to let students actively participate in learning the three branches of government and the different characteristics between them. The activities in this Web quest can be completed in a five-day timeframe. The activities can be taught in five 50-60 minute lessons. The timeframe can be adjusted depending on the needs of the students. The activity will work best with small groups, but can be used for individual students.
In order for the students to complete this Web Quest, students should have some background knowledge of the three branches of government. This can be done in 2-3 days that would explain the concepts and vocabulary of the branches of government. KWL charts, Venn Diagrams, concept and word webs would work best in building background knowledge.
The activities in this Web Quest can be modified to fit each grade level. Classrooms with limited access to computers can do the activities in small groups and rotate them through the activities at specified times. Students in grades 4 and 5 can write paragraphs and progress to reporting skills. Grade levels lower than third grade would benefit from making the collage and writing sentences to describe their sentences.
This Web Quest can be used to enrich the information provided to them about the branches of goverenment and as an assessment of what the students have learned of the branches of government. The activities are hands-on and engaging letting students apply the concepts and vocabulary learned in completing these activities.