Mock Election: Exploring Government Branches
Created byBetsy Roxburgh
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Mock Election: Exploring Government Branches

Grade 3Social Studies5 days
This project engages third-grade students in a mock election to explore the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government, the process of law-making, and the importance of elections. Through activities such as simulating legislative sessions, researching local government services, and conducting an election, students gain hands-on experience and a deep understanding of democratic processes. The project encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and communication as students assume different roles related to government operations and election campaigns.
Mock ElectionGovernment BranchesLaw-MakingLocal GovernmentElectionsDemocracySocial Studies
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as citizens of our local community, organize and conduct a mock election to understand how the government functions, including the roles of its branches, law-making, and the importance of elections?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government?
  • How are laws created and passed in our local community?
  • What services does the local government provide to its community?
  • Why are elections important and how do they impact our daily lives?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will understand the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government through simulations and discussions.
  • Students will learn how laws are created and passed by writing and debating mock laws within a classroom setting.
  • Students will explore the various services provided by local government by researching and presenting their findings.
  • Students will comprehend the purpose and importance of elections by organizing and participating in a mock election.

Pa Standards

5.3.3.A
Primary
Identify the roles of the three branches of government.Reason: The project will teach students about the three branches of government as they simulate their roles during a mock election.
5.3.3.B
Primary
Identify how laws are made in the local community.Reason: The mock election will include a component where students propose, debate, and vote on mock laws, thereby learning the local legislative process.
5.3.3.C
Secondary
Identify services performed by the local governments.Reason: Students will research and discuss the local government services as part of the election debate preparation and discussions.
5.3.3.E
Primary
Explain the purpose for elections.Reason: Conducting a mock election will directly address the significance and purpose of elections in a democratic society.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Mystery of the Missing Law

Begin with a staged 'mystery' where an important school rule has vanished overnight, causing chaos in the daily routine. Students must investigate which branch of government should address the issue and how new rules or laws can be created, mirroring real governmental processes. This scenario will keep students engaged and prompt them to explore the functioning of government branches and lawmaking.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Government Branch Explorers

In this activity, students will delve into the three branches of government to understand their specific roles and responsibilities. This foundational activity sets the stage for understanding how these branches interact and function in the context of a mock election.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Begin with a classroom discussion on the term 'government' and its importance in organizing a community.
2. Introduce the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Create an anchor chart with students to record key responsibilities of each branch.
3. Assign students to small groups, each focusing on one branch. Students will research their branch using age-appropriate materials.
4. Have each group create a poster detailing the branch's functions, the people involved, and famous historical examples of their work.
5. Groups will present their findings to the class, ensuring all students learn about every branch.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA class set of detailed posters explaining the functions and responsibilities of the three branches of government.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 5.3.3.A by helping students identify the roles of the three branches of government.
Activity 2

Lawmakers in Action

Students simulate a legislative session where they propose, debate, and vote on classroom laws. This activity helps students grasp the law-making process in their local community.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Start with a recap of the legislative process, emphasizing how ideas are turned into laws.
2. Each student brainstorms a classroom rule or law they would like to propose.
3. Form groups where students present their ideas. Each group selects one proposal to refine and present to the class.
4. Conduct a mock legislative session where proposals are debated. Assign roles such as speaker, debaters, and writers.
5. Vote on the proposed laws, explaining the voting process.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA set of student-created classroom laws and a reflection on the law-making process.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 5.3.3.B by guiding students to identify how laws are made in the local community.
Activity 3

Local Government Investigators

Students research local government services to understand their impact on the community. This will prepare them for upcoming debates in the mock election.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce the concept of local government and its role in providing services to the community.
2. Assign each student a specific local government service to research, such as public safety, education, or transportation.
3. Provide resources such as websites, books, or local government pamphlets for research.
4. Students complete a short report or presentation on their assigned service, highlighting its importance and challenges.
5. Students share their findings with the class, creating a comprehensive view of local government services.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityIndividual reports or presentations on local government services.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 5.3.3.C by enabling students to identify services performed by local governments.
Activity 4

Election Day Extravaganza

The culminating activity where students organize and conduct a mock election. This hands-on experience encapsulates their learning about government functions and the significance of elections.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Review the importance of elections and how they function in a democracy.
2. Divide the class into political parties or roles needed for the election process, such as candidates, campaign managers, and voters.
3. Students create campaign materials, such as posters and speeches, advocating for their party or candidate.
4. Conduct the election with voting booths and secret ballots. Ensure all students participate in voting.
5. Discuss the election results and reflect on the process, emphasizing what was learned about democratic elections.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA mock election demonstrating student understanding of government roles and election significance.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 5.3.3.E by explaining the purpose for elections through practical experience.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Mock Election Learning Assessment Rubric

Category 1

Understanding Government Branches

Evaluates students' comprehension of the three branches of government, their roles, and interdependence.
Criterion 1

Recognition of Branch Roles

Assesses ability to identify and explain the responsibilities of each government branch.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides an in-depth explanation of each branch with examples of responsibilities and historical instances.

Proficient
3 Points

Clearly explains the key functions and responsibilities of each branch.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies main responsibilities of each branch with some inaccuracies.

Beginning
1 Points

Has difficulty identifying functions of each branch; explanations are minimal or inaccurate.

Criterion 2

Collaboration and Communication

Measures collaboration in groups and effectiveness of communication in presentations.

Exemplary
4 Points

Actively leads and contributes to group work, presenting information clearly and engagingly.

Proficient
3 Points

Works well in a group, sharing ideas effectively and presenting clearly.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in group activities with inconsistent communication in presentations.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited participation in group activities; communication is unclear or lacking.

Category 2

Legislative Process Understanding

Assesses comprehension of the law-making process through classroom simulations.
Criterion 1

Proposing and Debating Laws

Evaluates ability to propose ideas, debate, and reflect on classroom law-making process.

Exemplary
4 Points

Proposes innovative ideas and debates respectfully; reflects deeply on the legislative process.

Proficient
3 Points

Proposes clear ideas and engages actively in debates; reflects on process elements.

Developing
2 Points

Proposes ideas that are unclear or lacks engagement in debates; reflection is basic.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to propose or debate ideas; minimal reflection on the legislative process.

Category 3

Understanding Local Government Services

Measures students' grasp of various local government services and their relevance.
Criterion 1

Research and Presentation

Evaluates research quality and clarity of presentation on assigned local government service.

Exemplary
4 Points

Conducts thorough research and presents findings clearly, highlighting service relevance.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents well-researched and clear explanation of assigned service.

Developing
2 Points

Research is basic and presentation lacks depth or clarity.

Beginning
1 Points

Incomplete research with unclear presentation of service findings.

Category 4

Election Understanding and Participation

Evaluates understanding of the election process and active participation in simulation.
Criterion 1

Campaign and Election Participation

Assesses involvement in campaign activities and participation in the mock election.

Exemplary
4 Points

Leads campaign creation and engages fully in election activities, showing deep understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Actively participates in campaign creation and engages in all election activities.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in campaign activities with minimal engagement in election roles.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows limited participation in both campaign and election activities.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What are the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government that you learned during the mock election project?

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Question 2

How did participating in a mock legislative session change your understanding of how laws are created and passed?

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Question 3

Which local government service did you research and what new understanding did you gain about its role and challenges in the community?

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Question 4

On a scale from 1 to 5, how much has your understanding of the importance of elections increased after participating in the mock election?

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Question 5

Explain why you think elections are important based on your experience with the mock election. Did anything surprise you?

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