Government
Interactive
Notebook
Created by: Michelle Harper
Table of Contents
Keys to a Productive Notebook.............................................3
Rules vs. Laws.........................................................................4
Rights vs. Responsibilities...................................................5-6
Conflict vs. Cooperation.....................................................7-8
Let's Vote!.............................................................................9-10
Levels of Government.......................................................11-13
Branches of Government.................................................14-15
Taxes.........................................................................................16
American Symbols.............................................................17-20
Influential Americans.......................................................21-22
How a Bill Becomes a Law..............................................23-26
Government Vocabulary.................................................27-28
Notebook Rubric.....................................................................29
Photos of Notebook ..........................................................30-31
Helpful Hints & Resources....................................................32
2 MH 2012
Keys to a Productive Interactive Notebook
• MODEL! Either make one in advance so you know what you’re
doing, or make one WITH the students as they make theirs!
• Keep that MASTER COPY on hand in your classroom so
students who have missed a day or lesson can use it as a model
to get caught up.
• You can add the items as students learn them so they can
reflect on what they’ve learned IN their notebooks, OR you can
put them together towards the end of a unit as a cumulative
review of all the skills. (Just keep in mind that the 2nd way
takes much longer to assemble and you’ll need to build that
time in your unit.)
• The notebook is an application tool for them to “show what
they know” and/or explain it in their terms. If they copy
something exactly as you have it, they’re not really getting as
much out of it. They whole idea is that you teach a concept,
they learn it, and in their notebooks be able to EXPLAIN it, as if
they were teaching it to someone else.
• Make it your (or their) own. Add to, take away, “spice it up,”
or whatever works for your kids. My students often give me
suggestions. For example, one student took the “Americans
have rights” scroll and glued only the top portion of it down
and ROLLED it up from the bottom like a real scroll. Adorable!
• It doesn’t always have to be a “solo act.” Let your students
work in pairs or cooperative groups when they add the
information. There’s a lot of peer tutoring and valuable
conversation that takes place.
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3
Rules and Laws
Compare and Contrast Rules to
Laws. Glue in notebook.
4
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Rights and Responsibilities
Cut out the "Americans Have Rights" scroll. List some rights that American citizens
have in the United States. Cut out the "To Do" list and add some responsibilities of
American Citizens. Glue in interactive notebook.
Americans Have Rights!
To Do List
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5
Rights vs. Responsibility Sort
Cut out the Rights and Responsibility Labels and glue in notebook. Cut
out the cards. Which ones demonstrate a RIGHT? a Responsibility? Sort
and glue under the matching label in your notebook. As a citizen, which
right is most valuable to you? Why? Which of the responsibilites are
most important to you and why?
RIGHTS RESPONSIBILITIES
Mrs. Brown votes for Lawrence picked up
the president of the his trash at the park
U.S. every four years. after eating his lunch.
My mom doesn't drive Miss Doran walked her
faster than the dog on a leash in town
speed limit. where there is a leash
law.
Our neighbor wrote a
letter to the editor We attend church
about the terrible every Sunday.
shape of the roads in
town. My parents purchased
some property to
My teacher had to build a house.
miss a few days of
school to attend Jury
A man accused of a
duty.
crime pleaded his
case in court.
6 MH 2012
Conflict vs. Cooperation
Role-play conflict & cooperation. Divide your students into teams and give
them a conflict and resolution to act out. (Con flict ideas included) Have
students identify the conflict and cooperation portion for each "mini-play."
Cut out the table below. Add to interactive notebooks. List some of your
own examples of conflict and cooperation.
Conflict Cooperation
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7
Conflict Cards
A student got a low grade on a Some kids are scribbling on
test. Others are involved in school property and you see
teasing the student. Act out the them. Act out the conflict and
conflict and add a resolution to add a resolution to show
show cooperation. cooperation.
In the middle of a test, you
During recess, your friends are
notice that your friend is trying
playing a game that you want
to copy the answers off your
to play. They say you can’t.
paper. Act out the conflict and
Act out the conflict and add a
add a resolution to show
resolution to show cooperation.
cooperation.
Your teacher assigns a project
In the cafeteria, kids at
to your group. Everyone is
another table are flicking food
participating in the project
at your table. Act out the
except one individual. Act out
conflict and add a resolution to
the conflict and add a resolution
show cooperation. to show cooperation.
During a soccer game, a kid on Someone you know is having a
your team misses the goal that party, but you don’t get an
could have won the game. Act invitation. Act out the conflict
out the conflict and add a and add a resolution to show
resolution to show cooperation. cooperation.
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Let's Vote!
Create a voting situation in your classroom. (What game you’ll play,
what novel study you’ ll do next, etc.) Let your students vote by
bringing their voter’s registration card (page 10) to a classroom made
ballot box. Cut out the voter’s ballot box below and glue ONLY the top
portion so it will lift as a flap in your interactive notebook. Underneath
add Voter’s requirements for your state.
Who gets to vote?
9 MH 2012
Voter’s Regis tration Cards
Name:___________________ Name:___________________
Birthdate:________ Age:____ Birthdate:________ Age:____
Address: _________________ Address: _________________
City:___________State:______ City:___________State:_____
Witness: _________________ Witness: _________________
Signature _________________ Signature _______________
Name:___________________ Name:___________________
Birthdate:________ Age:____ Birthdate:________ Age:____
Address: _________________ Address: _________________
City:___________State:______ City:___________State:_____
Witness: _________________ Witness: _________________
Signature _______________ Signature _______________
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10
Levels of Government
Trace the following circles on red, white, and blue construction paper.
Cut them out and glue them together like a "bulls-eye." (Red on bottom,
White on top of red, and blue on top of white) Glue them in interactive
notebook. Label each level of government with the correct title and list
who the primary leader is at that particular level. The smallest circle
represents the local level. The medium circle represents the state,
and the large circle represents the national level. Write about the
duties performed at each level.
Use this pattern for RED
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Use this pattern for WHITE
Use this pattern
for BLUE
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Levels of Government Sort
Cut out the Levels of Government Labels and glue in notebook. Cut out
the different government duties. Which level of government is
responsible for that particular task? Sort and glue under the matching
level of government in your notebook. If you could work for a
particular level of government, which one would you work for and why?
Local State
Kentucky set their highway speed
limit on the interstate at 70 mph.
National American troops were sent to
another country to assist citizens.
The mayor proclaimed a City council voted to put in a
special day in honor of a hero. stoplight at a busy intersection.
Oregon selected to change the The U.S. will have a new national
appearance of their license plate. holiday called " Kindness Day."
Charleston, WVA. .sets up a A new bill is passed by the Senate
recreational basketball league and House. It is then signed by the
for kids. MH 2012 President. It becomes a law.
13
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
Create a large construction paper tree with three brown branches.
Cover each branch with green construction paper to resemble the leafy
part of the tree. Label each branch with the correct labels. (Name of
branch, who the leader is, what they do, and a matching image) *There is NO
pattern for your tree, which is half the fun…getting all sorts of shapes
and sizes of trees! Once you've made a large construction paper version,
sketch a smaller version in your interactive notebook, or use the tree
template on page 15. Write about the branches in your own words.
Supreme Court
President
Congress
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Capitol Building
JUDICIAL BRANCH
makes laws Supreme Court The White House
carries out laws
makes sure laws are fair
14
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BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
TREE TEMPLATE
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Taxes
Cut out the Taxes Pay For Foldable on the dotted lines. Fold on the solid black
line. Glue left side only (underneath the Taxes Pay For...) in interactive notebook.
Underneath each of the flaps, illustrate and write about how taxes are used.
Public Parks
Taxes Pay For...
Road work
Education
Government
Services
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American Symbols
Cut out the American Symbols foldables on dotted lines. Fold on solid
black line with the image of the symbol on top. Glue back side of foldable
into interactive notebook. The symbol foldable should open like a mini-
book. Write some facts about the American symbol represented.
17 MH 2012
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American Symbols
Cut out the American Symbols foldables on dotted lines. Fold on solid
black line with the image of the symbol on top. Glue back side of foldable
into interactive notebook. The symbol foldable should open like a mini-
book. Write some facts about the American symbol represented.
19 MH 2012
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20
Influential Americans
Cut out the Influential American foldables on the dotted or jagged lines.
Fold on solid black line with the image on top. Glue back side of foldable
into interactive notebook. Write some facts about the Influential
American represented underneath the flaps. What were they famous
for? What time period did they live in? Illustrate or locate a picture of
2 additional influential Americans. Add some facts to your additions.
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Franklin Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt Frederick Douglas Cesar Chavez Paul Revere
Susan B. Anthony Lyndon Johnson Thurgood Marshall
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21
Influential Americans
Cut out the Influential American foldables on the dotted or jagged lines.
Fold on solid black line with the image on top. Glue back side of foldable
into interactive notebook. Write some facts about the Influential
American represented underneath the flaps. What were they famous
for? What time period did they live in? Illustrate or locate a picture of
2 additional influential Americans. Add some facts to your additions.
MH 2012
Franklin Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt Frederick Douglas Cesar Chavez Paul Revere
Susan B. Anthony Lyndon Johnson Thurgood Marshall MH 2012
22
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Cut out the game board and cards. Glue game board in notebook. Players use a small
object as a marker (colored cubes, tiles, etc.) to move on board. For each turn,
draw a card. Follow the directions on the card. Winner is the first person to reach
the finish line. Store cards in baggies in notebook for future play. As an additional
activity, sort all the cards that ARE involved in a bill becoming a law (ones with move
ahead statements) and sequence the events in the correct order. Glue in notebook.
You come up with a Your idea is written Your bill is placed is
great idea for a law into a bill by a placed in a hopper, a
that will benefit many representative in special box on the side
American citizens. Congress. Move ahead of the clerk's desk.
Move ahead 2 spaces! 2 spaces! Move ahead 1 space!
The representative, Your bill reaches a
In the House of
who wrote the bill, committee of experts
Reprsentatives, the bill
on the subject. They
gained a lot of is assigned a number
vote to approve it! It
additional sponsors to and read to all the
goes back to the House
help support the bill. representatives. Move
floor. Move ahead 2
Move ahead 3 spaces! ahead 1 space.
spaces!
Your bill is voted on in Your bill goes through Your bill has passed in
the House and then sent similar steps in the the House AND Senate
to the U.S. Senate. Senate as it did in the and is sent to the
Move ahead 3 spaces! House. The Senate President for approval.
votes to approve. Move Move ahead 1 space!
ahead 2 spaces!
The President vetoes your
bill, but no worries...2/3 of After lots of steps,
The President signs and the Representatives, and your bill becomes a law!
passes the bill into a law! 2/3 of the Senate It is enforced by the
Move ahead 3 spaces! override the President's government! Move
veto. Your bill becomes a ahead 3 spaces!
law! Move ahead 1 space! MH 2012
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You share an idea with
Committee members in Committee members
your representative,
charge of reviewing previewing your bill
but you get no
your bill want to want to revise it
support. He's not
research it further. before sending it to
interested in getting
Stay in the same space. House floor. Move
sponsors for the bill.
back 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Your bill passes in the
On the house floor, Your bill passes in the House and Senate, but
the bill does not House, but not in the is vetoed by the
receive enough Senate. Move back 1 President, without 2/3
support or votes. space. majority in House and
Move back 2 spaces. Senate to overturn.
Move back 2 spaces.
The Supreme Court Your bill takes years to
Your bill gets stuck in
strikes down your bill, get through the House,
the committee, where
declaring it Senate, and to the
most bills die. Move
unconstitutional. Move President. Stay in the
back 1 space.
back 2 spaces. same space.
About 25,000 bills are
Your bill has a better introduced in each term Your bill doesn't get
chance of becoming a of Congress, but only read in the Senate, due
law than another bill. about 10% will become a to a recess. Move
Send a player of your law. Odds are NOT in back 1 space.
choice back 1 space. your favor. Go back to
START! MH 2012
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How a Bill Becomes a Law
START
FINISH
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25
How a Bill Becomes a Law
START
FINISH
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26
Government Vocabulary
Have pre-made step books or flipbooks with the corresponding
number of pages to the vocabulary words you want to use. Glue
the flipbook into the interactive notebook. Cut/paste the
vocabulary words on the outside flaps of the flipbook. Add
definitions, illustrations, and sentences using the vocabulary words.
Add additional words if needed.
citizen vote democracy laws
rights taxes responsibilities Senate
volunteer House of Representatives Congress
conflict cooperation resolution
Balance of Power U.S. Constitution
Legislative Branch Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
27 MH 2012
Flip Book Directions
Any size paper can be used. You can also use plain white
paper or colored copy paper. If the flipbook is too wide for
the interactive notebooks, simply cut the width to fit. The
number of sheets will depend on how many flaps you need.
MAKING A FLIP BOOK
Balance of Power Any size paper can be used. The number of
sheets can be varied to suit your needs. For
citizen
example, if you’re going to use 6 vocabulary
Congress words, then you’d use 3 sheets. The number
of spaces will double when you fold . (step 2)
cooperation
page 1
1. Place 3 pieces of paper in a stack with side edges
page 2
page 3
aligned and short edges staggered about an inch
apart.
2. Fold bottom edges up to reveal and add more
“flaps” to the staggered spacing. Crease
along bottom and turn the entire folded flip
book around where the fold is at the top.
Staple along the top.
3. Add vocabulary words to the outside flaps in
Balance of Power
citizen
alphabetical order. Add definitions and
illustrations to go with each vocabulary word.
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Rubric for Interactive Notebook
4 A DVA NCE D Excellent effort
Obvious ‘abov e and b eyond’
with
writing/expl anations /lab eling
100% compl et e
Visu ally pl easing and v ery well
org anized
3 PR OFI CIE NT Good effort evident
Attem pt at g oing ‘ab ov e &
beyond’ w ith
writing/expl anations /lab eling
90% compl et e
Org anized
2 BA SI C Som e effort evident
Basic req uirements on
writing/expl anation/lab eling
75% compl et e
Could us e s om e imp rov ement on
org anizat ion
1 INCOMP LE TE Little or no effort on
writing/expl anations /lab eling
Incompl et e assig nm ents
Mess y/Unorganized
MH 2012
Your Score:
COMMENTS:
PHOTOS of the InTERACTIVE
NOTEBOOK Put Together:
page 4
cover page page 5
x
Ballot bo
u l d l i f t as
sho
flap
page 6 page 7 page 9 page 11
page 14
e c a n f o ld
Tre
i n t o y o ur
up page 14 page 16
notebo o k
page 17 page 18 page 21 page 23
e c a r d s can
Gam
n
be kept i d
a g g i e , t a pe
b
o n o t e b ook!
int
page 23
page 27
Keep in mind that the photos are just SUGGESTED WAYS to put
together. Most of the fun in creating
notebooks is that the kids have to OWN them. You'll be amazed at the
fun they'll have putting them together, using them as a study tool, and
the creativity they'll display. Have fun! If you have any questions, or
need further clarification on any parts, please let me know! :-)
Michelle
Nomonkeybusinessmichelle@[Link]
MH 2012
Helpful Hints & Suggestions
There are many wonderful resources out there to
enhance your Government Unit. Along with many of
the notebook activities, I use BrainPop Videos,
Discovery Ed. Video clips, and internet sites. Below are
some of the resources I've used that help tie the
notebook and concepts together.
BRAINPOP: Branches of Gov., Bill of Rights, How a Bill
Becomes a Law, Presidential Power, The Constitution,
etc.
BRAINPOP JR: Branches of Gov., Local and State Gov.,
Rights and Responsibilities, U.S. Symbols, etc.
DISCOVERY ED: Rules and Laws, Branches of
Government, The Constitution, Checks and Balances,
Taxes, etc.
Ben's Guide to Government for Kids: http://
[Link] *Activities sorted by grade level
[Link]: [Link] *Informational site on
government topics, which are explained in kid friendly
terms; Some worksheets available
Congress for Kids: [Link]
*Activities and information in kid friendly terms
Teacher Vision: [Link]
government/teacher-resources/[Link] *
MH 2012
32
Clipart by: Phillip Martin, Ashley Hughes, Zip A Dee Doo Dah,
CREDITS: Graphics from the Pond, Teaches Third in Georgia, and Teach
With Jen
Fonts by: Hello Literacy, Kevin & Amanda, & Kathy Law
Frames by: Creative Clips & Sweet Berry Patch
THANK YOU for your purchase! I hope you’ll also join me in my adventure in
the blogging world. Blog followers always get the “scoop” before anyone else! J
As always, if there’s something that needs to be fixed, or something that
you’d like me to adjust a little, to better suit your classroom needs, email
me…I’ll see what I can do!
Please respect the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which prohibits
nomonkeybusiness redistributing, editing, selling, or posting this item without permission from the
[Link] author. My email: nomonkeybusinessmichelle@[Link]
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