Learning Experience Design Through Gagne's 9 Events of Instruction

THREE BRANCHES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

The following is a learning experience model for introducing the three branches of the U.S. Government as well as some of the main powers for each branch. The model uses Gagne's 9 Events of Instruction.


Gain Attention:

I will gain the attention of putting four pictures of important political figures up on the screen. They will be John Boehner, Harry Reid, John G. Roberts Jr., and Barack Obama. I will ask the students to identify each of the following people.


Establish Purpose:

The exercise should have a sense of immediate purpose, as some of the most important people in America are often unrecognizable to a majority of its citizens, not just high school students. This also sets the stage for our introduction of the U.S. Government.


Stimulate Prior Recall:

Each student and their “elbow partner” will work together to write down the three branches of the U.S. Government. Also they will guess at one power attributed to each of their guesses. Come together as a class and try to come up with any correct information they have written down.


Present Content:

The content will initially be delivered in a reading that gives a basic overview of each branch and its main powers. Students are asked to highlight and annotate the reading.


Guided Learning:

After the reading each student will be presented with a three column T-Chart. They are to label each column with one of the three branches of government.

The teacher will have ten powers of the government printed out in large font on plain white printer paper and taped to the board/wall/etc. The students are to work with their “elbow partner” to write which power belongs in which column. Do this for all ten powers.

The three-column t-chart will be reproduced on the board. Teacher presents the class with one of the powers and asks which column they should tape the paper. The students should be checking their t-chart as the class does it on the board.


Elicit Performance:

The students are demonstrating their grasp of the information during both phases of the guided learning section. If there are discrepancies make sure to clear them up and recover any necessary material.


Provide Feedback:

Feedback should be continually given during the guided learning and elicit performance phases.


Assess Performance:

Provide the students with a matching quiz. Based on the prior activities the students should be able to match some of the main powers of the government to the proper branch.


Enhance Retention:

For homework have each student find an article dealing with the United States Government. After selecting an article the students are to identify the branch of government it is talking about as well as what power is being highlighted.



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