Branches of Government Lesson Plan: The Online LawCraft Game

Lesson Procedure:

1. Day 1: Pass out the Graphic Organizer to students and encourage them to talk with a partner about what they already know about the branches of government.
2. Play the Branches of Government Movie. Afterward, have students fill out the graphic organizer. You may want to play the movie through a second time with closed captioning on.
3. Review the graphic organizer with students. Talk about the role each branch of government plays in passing laws. Tell the class they will have the opportunity to virtually pass a law through a GameUp activity.
4. Project the LawCraft Game for the class to see. Review the instructions and introduction, and model game play as needed for students.
5. Give students at least 20 minutes to play the game. Two rounds of play may take 30 minutes, so this is an ideal amount of time. Point out the "help" features to any students who get stuck, and talk them through the decision-making process.
6. Talk with the class about the law making process. Discuss difficulties law makers encounter, the role of the congress person, etc. in terms of what students discovered as they were playing the game. Clear up any misconceptions the class may have.
7. Optional: Have students complete the Worksheet for homework.
8. Day 2: Show the How a Bill Becomes a Law Movie and talk about it with the class. What are the steps a bill goes through before it becomes a law? Have students write down the steps or record their answers in a class chart. How might students use the information learned in the movie to help them improve their strategies in the LawCraft Game?
9. Allow students to play the game for at least 20 minutes. Afterward, show the LawCraft Post-Game PowerPoint and guide students to reflect on what they learned.
10. Return to the class chart or individual lists of how a bill becomes a law. Have students make corrections as needed, based on what they learned in the movie and through game play.
11. Ask students to think about an issue that is important to them and other constituents in real life. Encourage them to write a letter to their congressional representatives urging them to pass a bill in support of their idea.