Lesson Plans > Government

The following Government Lesson Plans are condensed files that include links, content standards and other resources.
Requires Adobe Acrobat ® Reader, and will load in new browser windows.

Balance Of Power (103 k)
Which branch of our government oversees what responsibilities.

Campaign Ribbons (91 k)
Today candidates use the media to promote themselves, discover another way candidates could get their name out.

Capitals of Ohio (142 k)
Columbus was not the only capital of Ohio. This lesson uses a story to tell of the sequence of capitals. Students are asked to create a time line of events among other activities.

Capital vs. Capitol (134 k)
Is it capitol or capital? These words are often confused. Which is correct? This lesson should erase the confusion.

Design a State Seal (189 k)
Students are asked to examine to components of the Great Seal of Ohio and asked to design a new seal using icons that represent what is important to us today.

Fact of Fiction (138 k)
In this fun activity, students are given several true and false statements that are part of the lore of the Ohio statehouse. Deciding which is true or false will evoke lots of discussion.

How a Bill Becomes a Law (138 k)
This lesson asks the student to examine our system of making laws in Ohio. They are asked to research the process.

Local or State Government? (104 k)
Define which level of government, local or state, is responsible for the services it provides.

Ohio's US Presidents (151 k)
Students will use two reference sources to fill in the presidential chart, and will use correct bibliographical annotation of their sources.

Select a Candidate (182 k)
What qualifications does a candidate need to run for office, how is s/he selected, how can s/he be promoted to be elected?

Statehouse History (133 k)
The statehouse in Columbus is the second building to house state government. A short story followed by questions illustrates the political and economic factors that were overcome to see its construction completed.

U. S. Constitution and
the Northwest Ordinance (142 k)
This lesson and activities compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the United States Constitution and the Ordinance of 1787. It asks the student to read certain elements of each document and compare how each document addresses issues such as civil liberties, education, and slavery.

Vote on Election Day (123 k)
There are many reasons citizens should go to the polls and vote on Election Day.

What Does Local Government Do? (310 k)
Think about what kinds of services your government at the local level performs for its citizens.

Write a Constitution (135 k)
Students will generate ideas about the division of power, rights, and other issues that belong in a constitution.

Write to Your Legislator (135 k)
Citizens select and elect official to represent their interests at the state level. How does a citizen communicate his feelings about a topic to this representative? This is an exercise in writing to that legislator about an important matter.

Choose from the available topics listed below, which have been separated based upon 4th grade social studies content standards: