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Lesson Plan

Middle School Checks and Balances

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This Middle School Checks and Balances lesson plan also includes:

Seven video clips reveal how the checks and balances built into the constitutional framework of the United states' government are designed to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful. After watching each clip, groups identify the branches of government being pictured and the checks and balances being practiced.

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Concepts

the three branches of government, checks and balances, the constitution, the judicial branch, the legislative branch, the executive branch, government systems, governments, the united states government, the united states

Additional Tags

social studies

Instructional Ideas

Have groups research to find recent examples of the checks and balances at work
Provide additional scaffolding for the lesson by modeling the analysis process with Clip #2

Classroom Considerations

Presumes class members are familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the three branches of the government

Pros

Footage of actual events demonstrate the check and balance system in action

Cons

The video cuts speakers off mid-sentence

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