Students learn about the structure of the Texas state government. First they examine the legislative branch and draw a chart of how a bill becomes a law. Then they explore the executive branch and describe one of the various offices, commissions, or committees under its authority. Next they define important characteristics of the structure of the judicial branch. Finally, they create an infographic about one of the three branches.
Students read an overview of the three branches of Texas state government and how checks and balances limit the power of each branch. They watch History of the Texas State Capitol to learn background information about the Capitol building and its role in state government, then post an interesting fact they learned from the video to a class wall.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience and highlight the lesson objective. Show all or part of the video as appropriate for time, then prompt students to share and compare the facts they found most interesting, using these to emphasize the Capitol’s historical significance and its connection to all three branches of government.
Students are introduced to the legislative branch and learn that the Texas Legislature is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Using maps of State Senate and State House districts (and, if available, a “Who Represents Me” tool), they identify the districts in which they live and who represents them. After reading detailed information about the size, terms, leadership, committees, and meeting schedule of each chamber, as well as the steps in how a bill becomes a law, students create a flowchart that visually represents the lawmaking process in Texas.
Teacher MovesGuide students in locating their town on the district maps and, if possible, in identifying their specific senator and representative. Clarify key features of the Texas Legislature and the steps in the bill-to-law process as students work. Select one or more student-created flowcharts to review with the class, using them to summarize and reinforce how a bill becomes a law in Texas.
Students learn that the executive branch carries out laws and manages state affairs, and they examine the role and powers of the governor, including term length, military leadership, and veto and special-session powers. They view an image and brief description of a past governor, then contribute to a word cloud by naming one or more Texas governors they know. Students read about the governor’s appointment powers and the roles of other statewide elected executive officials. They then review the Governor’s Organization page to choose an office, commission, or committee of interest, research it, and post a summary explaining its purpose, activities, and personnel. Finally, they read classmates’ posts and respond to at least two with questions or positive comments.
Teacher MovesElicit prior knowledge by inviting students to share names of past and recent governors, adding examples as needed and directing students to a complete list of Texas governors if helpful. Clarify the responsibilities of the governor and other executive officials, emphasizing how the executive branch is organized. Support students as they explore the Governor’s Organization resource and compose their summaries, then encourage constructive peer interaction by prompting thoughtful questions and feedback on classmates’ posts.
Students read an explanation of the judicial branch, including the three levels of trial courts (district, county, and justice of the peace or municipal courts) and the two appellate courts (the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court). Using a graphic organizer, they define key terms such as verdict, criminal case, felony, civil case, misdemeanor, and appeals, consulting partners or reference tools as needed. They then study the chart titled Court Structure of Texas and respond to a prompt explaining why the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals appear side-by-side at the top of the chart.
Teacher MovesClarify the hierarchy and functions of Texas courts as students read, and support them in accurately defining the bolded legal terms in the organizer. Direct students’ attention to the court structure chart and facilitate discussion about why the two highest courts are shown at the same level, explaining that Texas has two courts of last resort—one for civil cases and one for criminal cases—whose decisions are final within the state system.
Students read a brief explanation of infographics and visit Infographicszone to see examples and learn what makes an infographic effective. They then choose one of the three branches of Texas state government and create an infographic that visually explains that branch’s structure and functions, either on paper (and upload a photo) or using an online tool (and share a link). After posting their work, they review classmates’ infographics and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment.
Teacher MovesExplain the purpose and features of infographics and, if desired, assign specific branches so that all three are represented across the class. Support students in selecting key information about their chosen branch and organizing it visually. After students post their infographics, prompt them to provide specific, constructive feedback on peers’ work and highlight strong examples that clearly communicate how a branch of Texas government is structured and what it does.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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