Indiana Social Studies 5.C.5

Social Studies5th GradeCivics and Government

The Standard

Identify the three branches of the United States government, and explain the functions of each.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students name the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. They explain that Congress makes laws, the president carries them out, and federal courts interpret them.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can match a bill being passed to Congress, a law being carried out to the president, and a case about a law to the courts. They can explain why each action belongs to that branch.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the president makes laws alone or that courts carry out laws. Some confuse the three branches with the federal, state, and local levels of government.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, ask students to name each branch and match it to one action: votes on a bill, carries out a law, or decides a case about a law.

Lesson moves

Give groups cards showing bills, presidential actions, and court cases; have them sort the cards into three branch folders and explain each choice.
Ask, "Who should act if someone says a law breaks the Constitution?" Have students write two sentences explaining their answer.
Read actions aloud, such as "Congress votes on a bill," and have students hold up a legislative, executive, or judicial branch card.
Show a news headline about a federal law and ask students to label where Congress, the president, and federal courts might each act.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 5.C.5, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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