This multi-activity lesson sequence shows students how the President really gets things done using their Constitutional and “soft” powers.
These activities can be done well in 3 class periods.
Included in this Powers & Roles of the President activity kit:
- Teacher Overview with detailed lesson plans for each activity, including various implementation options to suit your classroom needs
- 67-slide Google Slides Lecture (1-click download to PowerPoint) covering 9 roles and dozens of powers, with slide-by-slide teacher script
— Chief Executive
— Commander in Chief
— Chief Diplomat
— Chief Legislator
— Chief Citizen
— Chief Guardian of the Economy
— Head of Party
— World Leader
— Check on the Judiciary
- Guided Notes to accompany the lecture, complete with visual cues and Constitutional excerpts to support students
- 9 Presidential Roles Stations to illustrate real-world examples of 9 recent presidents fulfilling their roles, complete with audio voice readings via QR codes
- “Match the Hat” Review Activity to solidify and formatively assess learning by tasking students to identify the roles each president is playing
This resource is 27 PDF pages, plus Google files.
What grades is this intended for?
This was designed for high school, but could still work for upper middle school.
What supports are included? How can I modify this?
Slide-by-slide teacher script and notes with every lecture slide, visual cues included in guided notes, and audio read-alouds of every station’s text.
Google versions of student materials are editable to tailor for your students’ needs.
Can I use this in a homeschooling setting?
Sure! Everything in this kit can still be used in a solo or a small-group setting.
Is this editable? What file types does this resource come in?
The main resource is a secured, non-editable PDF file intended to be printed.
Included are links to editable Google files, to customize to your classroom needs and assign digitally if you choose.
What standards does this address?
Several! Standards vary, but this resource supports these from various states:
- Analyze the structures, functions, and processes of the executive branch
- Explain the expressed presidential powers and duties outlined in Article II
- Describe the implied powers of the president
- Examine the role of the executive branch in terms of its relationship with the other branches
What are the terms of use for this resource?
This resource, including all ancillary files, may be used as needed for regular, non-commercial single-classroom use between a teacher and their students.
This includes printing copies and sharing digital files with students through a secure platform, like Google Classroom or Canvas, email, or a classroom-only shared drive.
The using and sharing of any part of this resource in any manner outside the above-mentioned capacity is strictly prohibited. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to,
- posting files on the open internet or in a Facebook group
- emailing files to or sharing print copies with others (without purchasing additional licenses)
- uploading or storing files in a shared cloud drive accessible by anyone other than students
- including any part, or any derivative work, within any commercial endeavor like curriculum development, professional training, or for-profit teaching like Outschool, or selling this resource as your own in either print or digital formats
Doing so violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright law, and these terms.
By downloading this resource from Let’s Cultivate Greatness, the original user has been granted one license for a single teacher (or number of teachers matching the number of licenses purchased) and their students at any one time.
Let’s Cultivate Greatness retains the full copyright of this resource.
This was well put together, and the kids enjoyed the stations. – Tatum W.
Usually, I hesitate to spend more money on resources, but this has been exactly what I needed to supplement my teaching in my Government class. – Erron E.