The Presidency and Executive Branch Unit 4: Worksheets, Readings & Activities

Teach the presidency and executive branch with eight lessons for general high school government. Students read about presidential powers, explain checks on those powers, and connect federal agencies and elections to the way government works.

The activities change from lesson to lesson: guided notes, an open notes template, a scenario sort, a historical timeline, an agency inbox, an election flowchart, a mock Electoral College tally, and a U.S.–U.K. comparison organizer. Readings, a vocabulary crossword, and an assessment give you a starting point for teaching the unit.

What students work through

• Presidential powers and checks: an introductory article, guided notes, a reference page, and scenarios about who takes action.
• Presidential power over time: a feature article about Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Truman, with a timeline and evidence-based comparison.
• Cabinet and federal agencies: a directory, a process diagram, and five messages to route to the right agency.
• Presidential elections: an election sequence and a fictional vote tally that compares popular and electoral results.
• President or prime minister: a reading and organizer that follow the same proposed law through the U.S. and U.K. systems.
• Review and assessment: a study guide, a 12-word crossword with a word bank, and a 20-point assessment with eight multiple-choice questions and three short responses.

What’s in the download

One ZIP contains four PDFs and font notices:

• A two-page Start Here guide with printing, license, and support details.
• The full 27-page unit: 18 student pages and nine teacher pages with pacing, lesson guides, answer keys, and sample responses.
• A separate 18-page student print copy.
• A separate nine-page teacher print copy.

The separate print copies repeat pages from the full packet; they are not additional activities. Files are printable U.S. Letter PDFs. Editable Word, Google Docs, and slide files are not included.

Planning and classroom use

Plan for eight 45–55 minute class periods, adjusting for your students’ reading and discussion needs. Times are estimates. Students should already know the three branches and the basic idea of checks and balances. Teacher guides include an independent-work route for absences.

You’ll need a device to extract the ZIP and open the PDFs, access to a printer, and student writing supplies. Print at Actual Size or 100%. Student activities work offline.

License and support

For one teacher and their own students. You may print student copies or share student pages in a private class platform. Keep teacher keys private. Resale and public redistribution are prohibited. Digital download only; no physical item is shipped.

Need help with the files? Contact Social Studies Hub: https://socialstudieshub.com/contact-2/.

Version 1.1, November 5, 2026. Student activities include directions and omit day labels and printed page numbers. Optional pacing and print maps remain in the teacher guides.