Fourth Grade Government and Civics Unit
Lesson 5
Title: Why Do We Have a System of Checks and Balances?
Grade Level: Fourth Grade
Abstract: This lesson expands the study of the branches of government through a lesson on checks and balances. Students will answer the question of how do checks and balances serve to limit the power of the federal government?
Key Concepts: checks and balances, executive/legislative/judicial branches of government, limited government
GLCE:
C3.0.1 Give examples of ways the Constitution limits the powers of the federal government.
C3.0.5 Give examples of how the system of checks and balances limits the power of the federal government.
Sequence of Activities:
Step 1: Checks and Balances
Materials:
· Checks and Balances charts and worksheet
· Balance (scale)
Procedures:
1. Review the responsibilities of the three branches of government with the students.
2. Show the students a scale and ask them what is needed to balance the scale. Lead students to understand that it must have equal weight on each side.
3. Explain that each branch of the government has different powers, but has equal weight. Explain also that the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances that was created to ensure that that no one branch of our government could become too powerful. Use the worksheet below to guide the discussion.
4. Explain various checks that the branches perform on the other branches while supplying the students with an outline of the checks and balances.
5. Complete the checks and balances worksheet in pairs.
Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project