Checks and Balances Chart and Activities

Checks and Balances – Graphic Organizers and handouts

Digital version now included!

This lesson covers the system of checks and balances.

Checks and Balances is an important concept to understating how American government works.

Included in this resource:

You can decide how much practice your students need or which style of activities fit the learning styles of the group you have.

• Checks and Balances graphic organizer: Explain how to read the graphic organizer and explain how each branch checks the other.

• Interactive graphic organizer: Students or groups cut out the boxes. Students will then discuss where the different checks belong. This would be a great quick review activity before the quiz!

• Colored version of the graphic organizer – This graphic works best for students who need additional help understanding how to read the organizer. Each branch is in their own color.

• Worksheet 1 – Easiest version of the questions. Teacher key and a study sheet provided. If you have a student who has difficulty reading their own writing, this is a wonderful addition to their notes!

• Worksheet 2 – Asks students to identify which branch is doing the checking and which one is being checked. Teacher key and study sheet provided. A color coded version included as well to help.

• Worksheet 3 – Provides students with word bank for answers. This could be given as a warm up or an exit ticket to check for understanding.

• Assessment/Homework – 2 styles given, one style asks students to identify the name of the branch, the other one students need to list how each branch checks the other. You can assign for homework.

• Bulletin board: Print and hang bulletin board pages with title! Print off on colored paper help them stand out.

If you are teaching virtually or use Google Classroom, I have now included a Google Slides version of the Graphic organizers and the assessments!

If you like this resource you may also like:

Checks and Balances Writing Activity

Google Forms Checks and Balances Quiz

Checks and Balances DBQ writing - Digital version included

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