The State Governor

Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students discover the roles and responsibilities of a governor. Through a reading and board game, the class will identify the source of a governor's power, as well as how that power is best used in a variety of situations.

Partner Resources for this Lesson Plan include:

The State Governor - Middle School - on Nearpod

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to...

Describe the structure, powers, and authority of the state executive branch.
Identify the source of a governor’s power.
Decide which of a governor’s powers is best used in specific situations.
Describe how a governor can use executive power to maintain order and safety in the state.
Evaluate the role of state government in issues related to public safety and maintaining order.

LESSON MATERIALS

Downloadable Resources

Resources for this lesson are available in print and digital form. A free teacher account is required to access them.

This Lesson Plan is included in the following units:

Related Resources

WebQuest

States Rule!

Every state is different… and every state is the same! How can that be? Follow this WebQuest to find out about your state, its government, and its relationship to the U.S. government!
View
Game

Cast Your Vote

Election Day is coming, are you prepared to vote?
View
Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.
View
Lesson Plan

The Capable County

County governments provide us with valuable services. In this lesson, students explore the many roles filled by their county government and the role of county governments in our federalist system.
View
WebQuest

County Basics

You probably know you live in a county (or the equivalent of a county), but do you know what county governments do? Find in this webquest!
View
Lesson Plan

The Great State

What do state governments do? In this overview lesson, students learn about state government structure, functions, lawmaking, and relationship with local government.Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
View
Lesson Plan

Comparative Constitutions

If you’ve seen one constitution, have you seen them all? Compare and contrast the provisions of the U.S. Constitution alongside the state constitutions of Florida and Virginia. Find common ways in which state constitutions differ from (and are similar to) the U.S. Constitution, and take a closer look at your own state constitution. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below! Partner Resources for this Lesson Plan include:/*-->*//*-->*/Comparative Constitutions - Middle School - on Nearpod
View
WebQuest

Who Represents Me?

Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them? Follow this WebQuest to find answers to these questions and more!
View
Lesson Plan

State Power: Got a Reservation?

Students discover that states have their own governments and powers separate from the federal government. They learn what those powers are, how they’re different from the federal government’s powers, and that state governments also give power to smaller, local governments. Students critique a set of fictional state laws, create a story involving state powers, and look at some differences between state and local power. We recommend teaching our lesson The "Federal" in Federalism right before this lesson.(Please note: This lesson replaces our old "On the Level" lesson plan. The Venn diagram…
View
Lesson Plan

State Legislatures (HS)

Introduce students to the basic structure and function of state legislatures, as well as the variety in those structures. Students will learn to identify elements of their own state legislative body, and take a stab at gerrymandering to see the impact of districting on election outcomes.
View