Lesson Ideas

Inquiry Tasks

• Ask students to create an illustrated "Oklahoma Government" flipbook, describing the three branches of state government, basic authorities, and terms of office for major officials of each branch, noting which officials are elected by the public and which officials are appointed.

• Encourage students to create an illustrated infographic depicting the services provided by state government based on facts from a pie graph of state budget expenditures. (Updated pie graphs are published by OKPolicy.org and the 2019 Budget can be accessed online.) Engage students in a discussion related to areas of the budget they believe need increased funding in their community and why.

• Ask students to research one of Oklahoma’s historic elected officials, published online by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Ask students to work in pairs to develop a campaign poster, highlighting the background, qualities, and accomplishments of their assigned official. 

• Encourages students to describe the process government uses to transform ideas into laws, including the role of state legislators and the governor. Challenge students to create an annotated or illustrated timeline of the legislative process. (Students can access grade-appropriate resources at OK Government for Kids in order to complete the task.) 

• Encourage students to consider one area of concern which needs to be addressed in order to improve life for everyone in their community. Help students identify their state representative and/or senator, using the Oklahoma State legislature’s website. Provide opportunities for students to write letters to their representatives, expressing community needs and/or proposing solutions to such problems.

• Over a period of 3-4 weeks, assign students the task of watching or reading local news in order to identify examples of state officials working to address state issues or problems. During election years, ask students to gather information from print or digital news sources to compare candidates from the two major parties for governor, using information from the Democratic Party of Oklahoma and the Republican Party of Oklahoma. Which candidate would students vote for and why?

• Encourage students to brainstorm ideas to improve their school and help students develop a classroom petition supporting one or more of their ideas. Provide time for students to gather peer signatures on the petition and present it to the school principal. Ask students to compare this process and the degree of civic participation to the petition process in Oklahoma. Encourages students to compare the advantages of using public petitions to address community problems.

• Engage students in collaborative or independent research related to one or more community or state problems. Ask students to develop a solution in the format of a simple bill. Invite students to participate in a mock legislative session, providing time for students to present, debate, and vote on their proposals.

Primary Sources 

Secondary Sources 

• Oklahoma Government for Kids provides information about the powers and terms in office for major state officials. 

• The state legislature’s website provides up-to-date information about elected officials and proposed legislation for extended study by students. 

• The state governor’s website introduces students to the current chief executive and a student-friendly newsroom of events and accomplishments.

• Oklahoma Hall of Fame Carl Albert provides easy-to-use fun facts about one of Oklahoma’s most effective legislators.

• Oklahoma Hall of Fame Hannah Atkins offers students information about our state’s first African American women elected to the legislature.

• Oklahoma Hall of Fame Dewey Bartlett tells the story of the Republican governor who revitalized the term “okie.”

• Oklahoma Hall of Fame Henry Bellmon describes the life and contributions of the first Republican government of our state.

• Oklahoma Hall of Fame Robert S. Kerr explains how this governor’s vision led to conservation or our state’s resources. 

• Teacher Resources Correlated to State Standards, Oklahoma History Center, for teacher reference. 

• The Our Government presentation, published by the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies, introduces students to the structure of state government, highlighting a comparison of state officials to national officials. 

• The Three Branches of Government presentation, published by the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies, thoroughly reviews the powers of the three branches of national government, providing students with information to make a valid comparison to our state’s three branches. 

• Oklahoma My State, is a collection of instructional resources provided by the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies, available online for students and teachers. Resources are downloadable for printing, as well.