Florida SS.7.CG.3.3

Social Studies7th Grade

The Standard

Describe the structure and function of the three branches of government established in the U.S. Constitution.

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and the main institutions within each. They explain how Congress makes laws, the president and agencies carry them out, and federal courts interpret them.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can place the House, Senate, president, executive departments, Supreme Court, and lower federal courts in the correct branch. Given a government action, the student can identify the responsible branch and explain its role accurately.
Common Misconceptions: Students often say the president makes laws alone or that courts enforce laws. They may place the Senate in the executive branch or confuse federal institutions with state institutions.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Sort Congress, president, federal agencies, Supreme Court, and lower federal courts by branch. Then write one sentence explaining each branch's main job.

Lesson moves

Give groups institution and power cards to sort under legislative, executive, or judicial headings, then have them explain each match.
Ask students which branch should act in three government scenarios, then have them defend each choice with that branch's responsibility.
Play Branch Match, where teams pair power cards with branch headings and correct another team's mismatches for points.
Use a recent bill signing or federal court ruling to identify which branches acted and what each branch did.

Keep exploring

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