Arms of Government Civic Education Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Civic Education Primary 4 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Subject: Civic Education
Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: 6
Age: 8 years
Topic: Arms of Government
Sub-topic: Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioral Objectives: By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Highlight the arms of government.
2. Draw a chart showing the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary branches.
3. Discuss the functions of each arm of government.

Keywords: Arms of Government, Legislative, Executive, Judiciary

Set Induction: Begin by asking pupils who makes the rules and decisions in their community, and explain that this is done by different branches or arms of government.

Entry Behavior: Pupils are familiar with the concept of government from previous lessons.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Chart paper
• Markers
• Examples of charts showing the arms of government

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

• Review the previous lesson on types of government to connect the functions of different government branches to their roles. Pupils are familiar with the types of government in their previous lessons

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Collaboration
• Artistic skills

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Civic Education textbooks

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work for Primary 4
• Civic Education textbooks

Content

Arms of Government:

1. Legislative:
   • The Legislative arm makes laws. It is composed of elected representatives who debate and pass laws. In Nigeria, this is represented by the National Assembly.
2. Executive:
   • The Executive arm implements and enforces laws. It is led by the President and includes various government ministries and agencies.
3. Judiciary:
   • The Judiciary interprets laws and ensures justice. It includes the courts and judges who resolve disputes and review laws.

Evaluation:

1. The _______ arm of government makes laws.
   a) Legislative
   b) Executive
   c) Judiciary
   d) Military
2. The _______ arm of government implements and enforces laws.
   a) Executive
   b) Legislative
   c) Judiciary
   d) Police
3. The _______ arm of government interprets laws and ensures justice.
   a) Judiciary
   b) Legislative
   c) Executive
   d) Business
4. In Nigeria, the National Assembly is part of the _______ arm of government.
   a) Legislative
   b) Executive
   c) Judiciary
   d) Education
5. The _______ arm of government includes the President and various ministries.
   a) Executive
   b) Legislative
   c) Judiciary
   d) Health
6. Courts and judges are part of the _______ arm of government.
   a) Judiciary
   b) Executive
   c) Legislative
   d) Transport
7. The role of the _______ arm is to debate and pass laws.
   a) Legislative
   b) Executive
   c) Judiciary
   d) Environmental
8. The _______ arm is responsible for implementing laws.
   a) Executive
   b) Legislative
   c) Judiciary
   d) Security
9. Laws are interpreted by the _______ arm of government.
   a) Judiciary
   b) Executive
   c) Legislative
   d) Sports
10. The _______ arm of government is led by the President.
    a) Executive
    b) Legislative
    c) Judiciary
    d) Agriculture
11. The _______ arm of government resolves disputes and reviews laws.
    a) Judiciary
    b) Executive
    c) Legislative
    d) Communication
12. Making laws is the job of the _______ arm of government.
    a) Legislative
    b) Executive
    c) Judiciary
    d) Postal
13. The _______ arm of government ensures that laws are carried out.
    a) Executive
    b) Legislative
    c) Judiciary
    d) Legal
14. The _______ branch reviews laws and ensures they are followed correctly.
    a) Judiciary
    b) Executive
    c) Legislative
    d) Education
15. The National Assembly is part of the _______ arm of government.
    a) Legislative
    b) Executive
    c) Judiciary
    d) Technology

Class Activity Discussion

1. What is the Legislative arm of government?
   The Legislative arm makes laws and is composed of elected representatives who debate and pass laws.
2. What does the Executive arm of government do?
   The Executive arm implements and enforces laws and is led by the President.
3. What is the role of the Judiciary?
   The Judiciary interprets laws and ensures justice through courts and judges.
4. Which branch of government is responsible for passing laws?
   The Legislative branch is responsible for passing laws.
5. Who leads the Executive arm of government?
   The President leads the Executive arm of government.
6. What does the Legislative arm include in Nigeria?
   In Nigeria, the Legislative arm includes the National Assembly.
7. What is the function of the Judiciary?
   The function of the Judiciary is to interpret laws and resolve disputes.
8. What does the Executive branch do with laws?
   The Executive branch implements and enforces laws.
9. Which arm of government includes courts and judges?
   The Judiciary includes courts and judges.
10. How does the Legislative arm affect laws?
    The Legislative arm debates and passes laws that are then implemented by the Executive.
11. What is one of the main responsibilities of the Executive arm?
    One of the main responsibilities of the Executive arm is to enforce and carry out laws.
12. What role does the Judiciary play in government?
    The Judiciary plays the role of interpreting laws and ensuring that justice is served.
13. What does the Legislative arm consist of?
    The Legislative arm consists of elected representatives who debate and create laws.
14. What are the main components of the Executive branch?
    The main components of the Executive branch include the President and various government ministries.
15. What is the purpose of the Judiciary branch?
    The purpose of the Judiciary branch is to interpret laws and ensure that they are applied fairly.

Presentation

Step 1: Revising the Previous Topic

• Review the different types of government and their roles.

Step 2: Introducing the New Topic

• Introduce the concept of the arms of government, explaining the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary branches.

Step 3: Allowing Pupils to Contribute and Correcting Them as Necessary

• Discuss each arm of government and its functions as a class.
• Have pupils individually identify and write down the arms of government.
• Organize pupils into small groups to create and display charts showing the arms of government and their functions.

Differences between traditional and constitutional forms of government

Constitutional form of government

1. There is a fixed tenure of office. It means there is a definite period of time the government will spend. It could be four or five years.
2. This government rules according to the provisions of the constitution. It is what the law of the land says that the government must follow when in Power
3. Government i.e. the president, prime minister, and governors are elected by the people. They come to power through periodic elections–– elections are held at regular periods.
4. The government can also be removed by the people through election.
5. This is a modern form of government.
6. this types of government derive their power from the law or constitution of the land

Traditional form of government

1. This government has no fixed tenure. Rulership in this form of government is hereditary. The position is transferred from parents to children and from generation to generation.
2. This government rules according to the tradition and customs of the people. For instance, legal limitations to the powers of the monarch did not exist in ancient times, but they do in modern constitutional government.
3. Most traditional governments are dynasties. Only people from a particular family can have claim to the throne, i.e become rulers.
4. The king or monarch may not leave the throne except through death or abdication, i.e. being forced to leave, which was not common in those days.
5. It is perhaps the oldest form of government.

Teacher’s Activities

• Explain the arms of government and their functions.
• Facilitate class discussions and group activities.
• Provide materials for creating charts.

Learners’ Activities

• Participate in class discussions about the arms of government.
• Create individual and group charts illustrating the arms of government and their functions.
• Present charts to the class.

Assessment

• Evaluate pupils’ charts and presentations on the arms of government.
• Assess pupils’ understanding through individual identification and class discussions.

Evaluation Questions

1. What are the three arms of government?
2. What does the Legislative arm of government do?
3. Who leads the Executive arm of government?
4. What is the role of the Judiciary?
5. Which arm of government is responsible for making laws?
6. What does the Executive branch include?
7. How does the Judiciary ensure justice?
8. What is the function of the Legislative arm?
9. Which arm of government implements and enforces laws?
10. What are the components of the Judiciary?
11. Explain the meaning of government.
12. Explain traditional form of government.
13. What is constitutional form of government?
14. Identify three differences between the traditional and constitutional forms

Conclusion

• Mark pupils’ assessments and provide feedback.
• Reinforce the importance of understanding the different arms of government and their functions.