North Carolina Government

North Carolina Government

Introduction

Learn about North Carolina Agencies, the services they provide, the taxes that are collected to pay for services, and how an idea becomes a law in North Carolina. In this simulation, students will work in pairs as a candidate for governor and campaign manager to complete three documents about state government. Finally, they will take a quiz which will earn them "votes" for governor.

Tasks
You've decided to run for governor of North Carolina. Choose a partner to be your campaign manager. You're going to Raleigh to learn about state agencies and their sevices. Then you will find out how an idea becomes a law in North Carolina. Along the way, you and your partner will learn about state taxes. Pay attention and take careful notes, because at the end you will take a quiz to earn the votes you need to be elected. Compare your score with others in your class to learn who has the most votes.

Roles
Candidate for Governor is the one driving and in control of the mouse.

Campaign Manager should take notes for the candidate by filling out these important documents:

Taxes
From Idea to Law
NC Agencies and Services

Procedure
1. Print out the following documents

2. Before you leave, stop to pick up your paycheck.

PAY TAXES! - Click here!

3. You need to learn more about NC agencies and the services they provide. Agencies, along with the governor, are part of the Executive Branch of government. Visit the following site to see a list of NC agencies. Click in turn on each of the four agencies named on your NC State Agencies document to match the agency with the services they provide. Use the back button to navigate back.

North Carolina State Government Agencies

4. Time for lunch! You stop at a restaurant to eat.While you are there, you also decide to buy a souvenir t-shirt to take home.

PAY TAXES! - Click here!

5. Visit this site to learn how an idea becomes a law. Put the steps on the From Idea to Law document in order.

How an Idea Becomes a Law

6. You need to fill up your gas tank for the trip home.

PAY TAXES! - Click here!

7. Let's hope you and your campaign manager have been paying careful attention. It's time for you to take a quiz on what you have learned! Remember your score equals votes you want to earn! Print out the following quiz and give it to your teacher when you are done.

NC Government Quiz

Conclusion

After you finish the quiz, come back now or later to tour the Executive Mansion - if elected Governor, this is where you would live!

North Carolina Executive Mansion

Teacher Resources

The NC Government Webquest was created to provide access and structure to support the following goals and objectives of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for 4th Grade Social Studies:

Goal 7: Analyse the effectiveness of government agencies and political institutions in North Carolina.

7.1: Identify important services provided by state government in North Carolina.
7.2 Explain how state government services are financed.

Goal 8: Examine ways North Carolinians govern themselves.

8.1 Identify major government authorities at the local, state, and national levels; know how they are selected and state their general areas of responsibility.

The following Internet site was the primary resource used for this webquest and is a great resource for 4th grade social studies:

North Carolina Kids Page
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/kidspg/homepage.asp

The following worksheets and quiz can be printed out ahead of time and copied for students:

This webquest was created by Sue Kimmel .

GCS WebQuests