National Government Home:School Connections Unit Overview Students will investigate the three branches of government at the national level, with an emphasis on the concepts of separation of power and checks and balances. To do this work, they learn the “ins and outs” of the first three articles of the Constitution of the United States. Key Terms Here are some of the terms we hope you might see or hear from your student. Some are new and others may not have been heard in some time. We hope you can continue the conversation going at home.  Congress  Judicial review  Limited powers  Bicameral  Unconstitutional  Implied powers  Bureaucracy  Expressed powers  Cabinet Home Support There are a number of ways you can support your student during this unit. These are just a few suggestions:  Watch the national news or read the newspaper with your student. Ask them which branch of government (executive, legislative, or judicial) handles different issues or is in the story.  Take a day trip to Washington, D.C. and see where the three branches operate or a virtual tour on websites from each branch.  Get a map of the Washington, D.C. and identify all of the monuments and buildings associated with the federal government. Books and Websites Here are some books you can consider encouraging your student to read.  The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman  Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country by Jory John  If I were President by Bill Adler  Chief Justice John Marshall by Charles M. and Margaret K. Wetterer There are many kid‐friendly websites to explore citizenship. Here are a few.  http://ogc.navy.mil/content/kids/default.aspx ‐ The Department of Navy has a Law 4 Kids section designed to answer common questions students have about the law.  http://www.congressforkids.net/ ‐ The Dirksen Congressional Center created a fun and interactive site to help students better understand the three branches of government.  http://www.icivics.org/ ‐ Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor helped create this interactive site focused on civics.  http://www.whitehouse.gov/ ‐ Learn about the history of the White House and the many families who have called it home. You can even take an interactive tour with some pictures and videos.