Oklahoma Social Studies 5.C.7.1.A
The Standard
- 5.C.7
- Summarize the growth of a new nation under the leadership of Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.
- 5.C.7.1
- Describe the presidential leadership of George Washington, including the
creation of cabinet positions
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · 5.C.7.1
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain why George Washington needed advisers and how the first executive departments were created. They identify what the State, Treasury, and War departments handled.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can match State with foreign affairs, Treasury with money, and War with defense. They can explain that Congress created the departments and Washington chose their leaders, with Senate approval.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think the Constitution lists every cabinet job or that Washington created the departments by himself. Others think cabinet members vote on laws like members of Congress.
How to Assess It
- On an exit ticket, ask: Who created the first executive departments, and why did Washington appoint their leaders? Name one early department and its job.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs State, Treasury, War, and Attorney General role cards; have them sort treaty, debt, border defense, and legal question cards.
Ask: Why might Washington need separate advisers for a treaty, national debt, and army supplies? Have students write two sentences.
Play a four-corner match: read 'foreign treaty,' 'tax revenue,' 'army,' or 'legal question'; students move to the matching adviser sign.
Display a current presidential cabinet list; have students find the State and Treasury secretaries and compare their jobs with Washington's advisers.
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Related Standards
- TOT.C.8.2.F
development of the counterintelligence state
- USG.C.4.2.C
Describe the function of executive departments and the federal bureaucracy, including the authority and influence of the President’s Cabinet.
- OKH.C.5.1.C
Identify the requirements, terms of office, and duties for major elected and appointed state officials in each branch of state government.
- 8.C.5.1.A
Describe the purpose of the Cabinet as established by Washington and its role in today’s executive branch.
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