Lesson Plan - What Does the President Really Do?

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the U.S. presidency and the three branches of government by reading an article, watching a video, and analyzing a diagram and a primary source.

Curriculum Connections

• U.S. History

• Three Branches of Government

• The U.S. Constitution

• Elections

• The Economy

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Understand structures of power, authority, and governance

• Expand knowledge of democratic ideals and practices

English Language Arts:

• Learn and use domain-specific vocabulary

• Identify central ideas and key details

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, RH.6-8.9, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.9, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.9, SL.6-8.1

Essential Questions

  • How is the U.S. government organized?
  • How does the U.S. Constitution limit the president’s power?
  • What responsibilities do leaders have?

1. Preparing to Read

Build Background and Vocabulary

Have students watch the video “Unboxing the Presidency.” Then discuss these questions: Would you want to be president? Why or why not? What do you think would be the hardest part of the job? Then use the Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms in the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently. As students read, direct them to mark the job that seems most interesting with an exclamation point and the job that seems most challenging with a star. If students are reading online, they can highlight or jot down their choices.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• What is the executive branch? What does being the chief of that branch involve? (Central Ideas)
The executive branch is one of the three branches of the federal government. It includes the president, vice president, and Cabinet. As its chief, the president oversees nearly 3 million employees. The role also involves enforcing the nation’s laws and nominating people to fill open seats on the U.S. Supreme Court.

• What are the president’s responsibilities as commander in chief? (Text Evidence)
As commander in chief, the president is in charge of the nation’s armed forces. Presidents decide when and where to deploy troops and how to use weapons, including nuclear ones.

• How is the president involved with legislation? (Key Details)
While only Congress can make laws, the president can influence legislation. Presidents can urge members of Congress to vote for or against bills. They can also veto new laws, but Congress can override a veto if two-thirds of both the House and the Senate vote to do so.

3. Skill Building

Understand Government

Assign the Skill Builder Checks and Balances to have students analyze a diagram that shows the separation of powers between the three branches of government.

Analyze a Primary Source

Use the Skill Builder Primary Source: An Inaugural Address to have students read and analyze excerpts from President John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1961 speech.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Differentiate and Customize

For Struggling Readers: Before reading, ask students to notice how the article is organized. Guide them to recognize that it has an introduction, seven sections about each of the president’s main roles, and presidential fun facts.

For Distance Learning: Invite students to watch JFK’s full inaugural address at jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/inaugural-address. Discuss how watching the speech differs from reading it.

Printable Lesson Plan

Interactive Slide Deck

Text-to-Speech