Before teaching elementary school children about the structure of our government or other governments across the globe, it is important that students have a solid foundation of American history. Incorporate a preemptive lessons on American history so students understand where our government comes from. It is important that students have a basic understanding of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution. This lesson serves as the introduction that will lead to government structure.
A social studies lesson covering government structure is a difficult subject to keep students engaged. Some students may find the subject boring or dry. Keep your students' attention and appeal to all learning styles by building your lesson plan around interactive games and activities, in addition to individual work. Fill your lesson with games, printable worksheets, colorful slide shows, engaging videos and computer games, as well as group and artistic projects. Consider taking a class field trip so students can visit their city’s capitol building or courthouse to talk with government officials and see where laws are made.
The most basic area of focus for an elementary lesson plan on government structure includes understanding the three branches of government. Teach students the basic differences between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. It is also important that students understand the system of checks and balances, and how each of these branches serves as a watchdog and balance for the others.
Other areas of focus include the purpose of elections and the job of the president, as well as Congress and Supreme Court. Spend time focusing on vocabulary, as many of these words and ideas are new for elementary school students.
Teachers must account for the fact that government structure is a new concept for elementary school students. Plan to spend time reviewing and reinforcing ideas. Students must have an understanding of how the government functions and operates on a national, state and local level. Give plenty of examples of how government affects us in our everyday lives. Test students so your entire class is on the same page. Trivia games and incentives are good for testing students' knowledge, as well as enhancing teamwork and confidence.