Civics & Government · 9th Grade

Active learning ideas

The Role of State Governments

Bring civics home by exploring the government that's closest to your students: their own state government. This topic demystifies state power and connects it directly to students' lives.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3 Framework: D2.Civ.3.9-12: Analyze the impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and international agreements on the maintenance of national and international order.

• 30–60 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Pairs

State Government Scavenger Hunt

Students use state government websites to find the names of their governor, lieutenant governor, state senators, and representatives. They also identify one state law that affects them as teenagers, such as curfew or driving age.

Explain how the principle of federalism divides powers between the national and state governments.

Facilitation Tip

Provide students with a list of official state government websites to ensure they are using reliable sources.

What to look for

An exit ticket asking students to list one power reserved for states and one way the state government affected their day.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 60 min · Individual

A Day in the Life: State Law Edition

Students create a timeline or comic strip of a typical day, from waking up to going to bed. They must label at least five points in the day that are regulated or influenced by a state law or agency, like food safety standards for breakfast or public school funding.

Analyze the structure and functions of the three branches of your state's government.

Facilitation Tip

Begin with a whole-class brainstorm of a few examples to get students thinking about the pervasive influence of state government.

What to look for

Students research a specific law in their state. They must create a short presentation explaining the law's purpose, how it was passed by the state legislature, and its impact on citizens.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Simulation Game
• 30 min · Small Groups

Federal vs. State Power Sort

In small groups, students receive cards with different government powers written on them (e.g., 'Declare War,' 'Issue Driver's Licenses,' 'Collect Taxes'). They must sort these cards into three categories: Federal Powers, State Powers, and Concurrent (Shared) Powers.

Compare the powers of a state governor to the powers of the U.S. President.

Facilitation Tip

Use a large Venn diagram on the board or floor to have groups place their cards and discuss their reasoning.

What to look for

Students use a KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned) chart at the beginning and end of the unit to track their understanding of state governments.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Begin by tapping into students' immediate experiences, like school rules or local traffic laws, to illustrate state authority. Use your specific state as a living case study, exploring its unique constitution, legislative process, and key political figures. Constantly encourage students to draw parallels and note differences between the state model and the federal government structure they have already studied.

Upon completion, students will be able to identify the key functions of their state government and explain how state-level decisions directly impact their community and daily routines.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• The federal government is always more powerful than state governments.

  While federal law is supreme under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause, the 10th Amendment reserves many significant powers specifically for the states. These reserved powers cover critical areas like education, public safety, and local commerce, giving states substantial authority independent of the federal government.

• All state governments are identical copies of the federal government.

  While most states have a three-branch structure, there are many variations. For example, Nebraska has a unicameral (one-chamber) legislature, unlike the U.S. Congress. Governors may have different powers, and state constitutions can grant rights not found in the U.S. Constitution.

• State laws don't really affect my daily life.

  State laws have a direct and constant impact. They determine the age you can drive, the requirements for graduating high school, the minimum wage for a part-time job, the sales tax you pay on a snack, and the rules for getting a fishing license.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game