Executive Alert
The White House Adventure
A powerful disturbance has been detected inside the White House.
Ari Raider is receiving unstable readings from the Executive Operations Vault, where the President’s leadership systems, decision spaces, and security protocols must work together every day. The Professor has interfered with the systems that explain how the White House functions as both a home and a command center and hidden a specimen inside a sealed Mystery Mine. To restore balance, students must investigate the role of the President, executive branch operations, the Oval Office, staff support, diplomacy, and security.
This adventure turns civics into a story driven escape room style mission focused on leadership, decision making, and how the executive branch functions.
Executive Alert: The White House Social Studies Adventure
A story driven social studies adventure where students explore the White House, investigate the President’s role, executive branch operations, and security systems, and restore balance in the Executive Operations Vault by answering questions and unlocking the Mystery Mine.
Adventure Overview
Setting: The Executive Operations Vault
Story Hook: Ari Raider detects a disturbance inside the White House caused by the Professor.
Student Mission: Explore White House zones, answer questions correctly, and unlock the Mystery Mine.
Mission Objective: Discover. Identify. Collect.
Grade Levels: 3–5
Time: 30–60 minutes
Lesson Plan
Objective: Students will explain the purpose of the White House, describe the President’s role in the executive branch, and identify how staff, meetings, and security support leadership.
- Engage: Introduce the White House as both a residence and a workplace where major decisions are made.
- Explore: Students progress through three zones by answering questions about leadership, decision spaces, and security.
- Explain: Discuss executive branch responsibilities, staff and advisors, diplomacy, and how protection systems operate.
- Extend: Connect the White House to real examples of leadership, communication, and national decision making.
- Evaluate: Use the Knowledge Check and discussion questions for review and reflection.
Teaching Guide
- Use as a guided class adventure, independent activity, or social studies center rotation.
- Pause after each zone to connect story clues to real executive branch responsibilities.
- Emphasize that the President works with staff and advisors, not alone.
- Discuss how diplomacy involves meetings and communication with other leaders.
- Optional: Students create an “Executive Branch Map” listing the President’s duties and support systems.
Vocabulary
- Executive branch: The branch of government that enforces laws.
- President: The elected leader of the United States and head of the executive branch.
- Commander in chief: The President’s role as leader of the armed forces.
- Advisor: A person who gives guidance to help leaders make decisions.
- Diplomacy: Working with other leaders and countries through communication and meetings.
- Secret Service: A federal agency that protects the President and the White House.
- Protocol: A set of rules or steps that must be followed.
- Preservation: Protecting something so it can last over time.
Knowledge Check: Questions & Answers
Zone 1: Command and Leadership Zone
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Q: Where is the White House located?
A: Washington D.C. -
Q: What is the main role of the White House?
A: It is the President’s home and workplace -
Q: Who is the head of the executive branch?
A: The President of the United States
Zone 2: Oval Office Decision Hall
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Q: What is the Oval Office primarily used for?
A: Presidential work and decision making -
Q: How often is the Oval Office used?
A: Daily for meetings and decisions -
Q: Who assists the President with decisions?
A: Advisors and staff
Zone 3: Security and Diplomacy Chambers
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Q: Who is responsible for protecting the White House?
A: The Secret Service -
Q: Why is access to the White House strictly controlled?
A: To ensure safety of the President and staff -
Q: What role does the White House play in diplomacy?
A: It hosts meetings with domestic and foreign leaders
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the President needs advisors and staff to help make decisions?
- How does the executive branch connect to the laws made by Congress?
- Why is security important for government buildings and leaders?
- How can meetings and diplomacy affect life in the United States?
- What responsibilities do you think come with being a national leader?
Classroom Transformation Ideas
- Create an “Executive Operations Vault” mission zone with a decision board and evidence notes.
- Set up stations labeled “Leadership,” “Oval Office,” and “Security” to match the three zones.
- Use tape pathways to represent controlled access routes and checkpoints.
- Play quiet office ambience or city ambience during the adventure for immersion.
- Assign roles like “Advisor,” “Security Analyst,” or “Diplomacy Reporter.”
DIY Excavation Activity
No-mess option:
- Hide a small object or “executive token” in a paper cup.
- Cover it with shredded paper or crumpled paper to represent secure files.
- Students excavate carefully using a spoon or craft stick and record observations.
- Have students explain which executive responsibility the token might connect to and why.
Standards Alignment
- Describe the role of the President and the executive branch.
- Explain how government buildings support decision making and civic systems.
- Identify how leadership involves staff, planning, and communication.
- Use evidence to explain how security and diplomacy influence government operations.
Free Printable Trading Cards
Download free printable trading cards that match Executive Alert. Each card reinforces White House and executive branch concepts used in the adventure and supports collection based learning.