Step 1 - Build your team You will first be assigned to a team of four students, with each of you taking on a specific job. Click on the choices below to learn more.  Please select your job carefully.  Reading the qualifications will help you decide which job may be best for you. Research Specialist     Architect     Project Supervisor     Cartographer Step 2 - Learn about monuments As a team you will research monuments that are in Washington, DC.  Each member of your team will select a different monument that is currently on the mall.  Team members will learn about the purpose of this monument and some details about it.  When all members have gathered their research, your team will meet to discuss what was learned about each monument. The following links will take you to the National Mall to learn more. The National Mall - a National Park Service site The Monuments of Washington - Information about six major monuments DC Pages on Monuments Washington DC - National Register of Historic Places Step 3 - Learn about the three branches of government Next you will identify the three branches of government and the responsibilities of each branch.  List the responsibilities and members of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government on the diagram  your teacher gives you.  Link here to view and print the diagram page. These sites will help you explore the branches of the US Government. Ben's Guide to Government for Kids Branches of Government - At the bottom of this page you will find the three branches. PBS Kids Democracy Project - Go to "How does Government Affect Me?" and click on the capital to learn more about the three branches. Step 4 - Choose one branch of government After you identify and write about each, your team will agree on one branch of government which your monument will represent.  Please record your choice, the names of your group members, and the job each member is responsible for, and give this information to your teacher. Step 5 - Learn about your choice When you have made your selection, your team will research and record information about the branch of government you have chosen, helping you to create an appropriate design.  Each member will complete an activity page which details the responsibilities of this branch.  Your teacher will give the activity page to you.  It can be viewed and printed here.  The following links will provide your team with information that will get you started.  Ben's Guide to Government for Kids Branches of Government PBS Kids Democracy Page - go to the "How does government affect me?" and click on the Capitol. You will find information on the branches of government here. Now that you have learned all about the three branches of government, take this quiz to see what you remember. Government Quiz Step 6 - Make a plan Now that your research is complete, you are ready to plan your monument. Using what you know about monuments and knowing all you do about your choice, create a design that will represent the branch of government you have chosen.  Everyone must be involved in giving the architect suggestions.  The architect's model must be at a scale of one inch equaling one foot. Congress wants you to be aware that this new monument can not be taller than the Washington Monument, and it can not block the view between the White House and the Washington Monument, so keep this in mind as you are planning.   As soon as your group decides on a design, begin collecting materials to build to model.  If you wish to use clay, click here to view a recipe for salt dough which you can print. Step 7 - Build your monument The members of your group will be working on their individual jobs now.  Look at the scoring guide to find out  how you are doing on this activity. The Project Supervisor and Architect will be building the model of the monument your group designed.  They  will use the materials gathered by your team to make a model of the Architect's drawing. Remember, the model must be at a scale of one inch equaling one foot. At this time the Research Supervisor will develop the written (or multimedia) visual display that will be at the entrance to the monument.  This will include an explanation of why this monument is important to the public, and how your design tells about the branch of government you have chosen.  You may want to include information about the history of your design and who was responsible for its creation. The Cartographer will be drawing the map of the National Mall including the monument your group has designed. View and print an actual map of this area, so the map you draw is accurate. Your map will include a key, scale of miles, and a compass rose.  The final copy should be drawn on a paper that is 12 inches, by 18 inches. Several maps are linked below. National Mall Maps - this site has a variety of maps to use National Geographic Map of National Mall National Mall - interactive map Step 8 - Present your idea Finally, you will present the scale model of the monument and your visual display to the public.  At this time your team will share the ideas which helped you decide on your design, and tell what your monument stands for.  Plan your presentation so that it is professional and easy to understand.  Each group member must tell something about the part they played in designing the monument.  It might be helpful to write down what you want to say and practice it before you get up in front of the group.