You will learn
- Define executive, legislature, judiciary, separation of powers.
- Describe the three branches.
- Explain checks and balances.
- Explain why power is divided.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- There are three branches.
- Each has a different job.
- They check each other.
- Dividing power protects fairness.
Words to know
the branch of government that carries out the laws and runs the country
the branch that makes the laws; in Sierra Leone it is Parliament
the branch made up of the courts that apply the law and settle disputes
dividing government power between branches so that no one holds all of it
1. Discover: Three hands
Ms Smith holds up three paper hands. “One hand carries out the laws: the executive, led by the President with ministers. One hand makes the laws: Parliament, the legislature. One hand decides what the law means and settles disputes: the judiciary, the courts,” she says. “No hand can do everything. They check each other.” Abu asks, “Why?” “So no one has too much power,” says Ms Smith. “That protects our rights.”
Think: What could go wrong if one person made, carried out and judged all the laws?
2. Understand: Government institutions
Idea 1: The three branches
The executive carries out laws and runs the country: the President, ministers and the public service. The legislature, Parliament, makes laws, approves the budget and questions the executive. The judiciary includes magistrate courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which apply the law, protect rights and settle disputes.
Idea 2: Checks and balances
Separation of powers means no single branch has all the power. Parliament can question ministers and refuse a law; the courts can say that an action breaks the constitution; the executive proposes budgets and signs laws. These checks help prevent abuse.
Idea 3: Why it matters
Dividing power makes it harder for any person or group to misuse it. Independent courts protect people’s rights even against the government. Citizens also check power by voting, speaking freely, forming groups and reading about public affairs.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Match
Branch that makes laws.
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: Legislature.
Example 2 (We do it together): Match
Branch that settles disputes.
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: Judiciary.
Example 3 (You try): Explain
Why divide power?
Show the steps and answer
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: To prevent abuse.
Did you know?
Many countries divide power into three branches, an idea explained by thinkers in the 1700s such as Montesquieu.
Why this matters
Understanding institutions helps us know how to take part and how to protect fair government.
4. Explore: Branch sort
Sort 12 tasks (pass a law, run a ministry, hear a court case, approve a budget, sign a law, protect a right) into the three branches. Draw arrows to show one check one branch has on another.
- Sort.
- Draw.
- Explain.
- Share.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Each branch has limits.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The executive is ___.
- The legislature is ___.
- The judiciary is ___.
- Separation of powers is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is the executive?
Carries out laws.
Question 2. What is the legislature?
Makes laws.
Question 3. What is the judiciary?
The courts.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is the executive?
- What is the legislature?
- What is the judiciary?
- What is separation of powers?
- Name the legislature.
Level 2: Grow
- Why courts independent?
- Why checks?
- Why vote?
Level 3: Stretch
- Sort tasks.
- Draw checks.
- Explain why.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Social Studies in everyday life
Name the three branches and give one task for each.
Show a sample answer
Executive: run ministries; legislature: pass laws; judiciary: hear cases.
Another one. Ask an adult why it is good that no one person has all the power.
Show a sample answer
Share.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Parliament makes laws.
Fix: They must be independent.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can define executive, legislature, judiciary, separation of powers.
- I can describe the three branches.
- I can explain checks and balances.
- I can explain why power is divided.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- There are three branches.
- Each has a different job.
- They check each other.
- Dividing power protects fairness.
11. Next lesson
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Define executive and judiciary. [2 marks]
- Name the three branches and a task for each. [3 marks]
- Explain one check between two branches. [3 marks]
- Say why power is divided. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Executive [1]; judiciary [1]
- Three branches [3]
- Branch 1 [1]; branch 2 [1]; check [1]
- Prevent abuse [1]; protect rights [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is the executive?
- What is the legislature?
- What is the judiciary?
- What is separation of powers?
- Name the legislature.
- Why courts independent?
- Why checks?
- Why vote?
- Sort tasks.
- Draw checks.
Homework
Draw the three branches.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is the executive? | Carries out laws. | 1 |
| 2. What is the legislature? | Makes laws. | 1 |
| 3. What is the judiciary? | The courts. | 1 |
| 4. What is separation of powers? | Dividing power. | 1 |
| 5. Name the legislature. | Parliament. | 1 |
| 6. Why courts independent? | Fairness. | 1 |
| 7. Why checks? | Prevent abuse. | 1 |
| 8. Why vote? | Citizens check power too. | 1 |
| 9. Sort tasks. | Sort. | 1 |
| 10. Draw checks. | Checks. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Carries out laws.; 2 Makes laws.; 3 The courts.; 4 Dividing power.; 5 Parliament.. Level 2: 1 Fairness.; 2 Prevent abuse.; 3 Citizens check power too.. Level 3: 1 Sort.; 2 Checks.; 3 Explain..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Define executive, legislature, judiciary, separation of powers | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Describe the three branches | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Explain checks and balances | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Explain why power is divided | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “The President makes all the laws.” Parliament makes laws.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Make a three branches chart.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child studies the branches of government. Please talk about why fairness needs checks. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Talk about fair rules.
- Discuss checks.
- Respect institutions.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: define executive, legislature, judiciary, separation of powers; describe the three branches; explain checks and balances; explain why power is divided.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 4 ideas: rules, laws, public institutions, local and national government.
Materials. Task cards, charts. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Prepare task cards.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Tell the three hands story.
Explanation (10 min). Teach government institutions.
Guided activity (10 min). Branch sort.
Independent activity (10 min). Discuss.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What are the branches of government and how do they check each other?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with a picture, story, map or local example. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always ask “how do you know?” and invite more than one view. Treat every family, culture and community with respect, and never ask learners to share private information.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures, maps, real objects and short sentences, and let learners work with a partner. Let learners point, show, act or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example from their own community and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “The President makes all the laws.” Parliament makes laws.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Make a three branches chart. Enrichment. Find one new example near your home or school, draw or write about it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: NCSS standards and C3 Framework, Cambridge Primary Humanities and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Social Studies curriculum, Grade 5 Unit 5, topic 3; NCSS C3 Framework, civic and political institutions, participation and deliberation, processes, rules and laws; Cambridge Lower Secondary Humanities, citizenship and government; IB Primary Years Programme, how we organise ourselves. These sources informed the lesson.