Lawmakers Under Lockdown
U.S. Capitol Adventure
A powerful disturbance has been detected inside the U.S. Capitol.
Ari Raider is receiving unstable readings from the Legislative Command Vault, where Congress meets to debate, vote, and create laws that affect the entire country. The Professor has interfered with the systems that explain how the Capitol works, how Congress is organized, and how a bill becomes a law and hidden a specimen inside a sealed Mystery Mine. To restore balance, students must investigate the purpose of the Capitol, the House and Senate, and the lawmaking process.
This adventure turns civics into a story driven escape room style mission focused on lawmaking, representation, and how democracy functions.
Lawmakers Under Lockdown: U.S. Capitol Social Studies Adventure
A story driven social studies adventure where students explore the U.S. Capitol, investigate how Congress works, how the House and Senate represent people and states, and how a bill becomes a law, and restore balance in the Legislative Command Vault by answering questions and unlocking the Mystery Mine.
Adventure Overview
Setting: The Legislative Command Vault
Story Hook: Ari Raider detects a disturbance inside the Capitol caused by the Professor.
Student Mission: Explore Capitol 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 U.S. Capitol, describe the roles of the House and Senate, and outline key steps in how a bill becomes a law.
- Engage: Introduce the U.S. Capitol as the building where Congress meets to create federal laws.
- Explore: Students progress through three zones by answering questions about lawmaking, representation, and the bill process.
- Explain: Discuss the legislative branch, House and Senate differences, committees, and presidential approval.
- Extend: Connect classroom issues to how laws can be proposed, debated, and voted on.
- 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 government roles and vocabulary.
- Emphasize that the House represents people by population and the Senate represents states equally.
- Highlight how committees and hearings help lawmakers study bills before voting.
- Optional: Students create a “Bill Tracker” showing each step from idea to law.
Vocabulary
- Congress: The U.S. lawmaking body made up of the House and Senate.
- Legislative branch: The branch of government that makes laws.
- Representative: A lawmaker elected to speak and vote for people in an area.
- Senator: A lawmaker elected to represent an entire state.
- Bill: A proposed law that is debated and voted on.
- Committee: A smaller group that studies bills and gathers information.
- Hearing: A meeting where people share information or testimony about an issue.
- Majority: More than half of the votes.
Knowledge Check: Questions & Answers
Zone 1: Seat of Lawmaking Zone
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Q: Where is the U.S. Capitol located?
A: Washington D.C. -
Q: What is the main purpose of the U.S. Capitol?
A: It is where Congress meets to create laws -
Q: Which branch of government works in the Capitol?
A: The legislative branch
Zone 2: House and Senate Hall
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Q: Which part of Congress represents the people based on population?
A: The House of Representatives -
Q: How many senators does each state have?
A: Two -
Q: Which chamber introduces revenue bills?
A: The House of Representatives
Zone 3: Bills and Committees Chambers
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Q: What is the first step in making a law?
A: A bill is introduced in Congress -
Q: What do committees do?
A: Study bills and hold hearings -
Q: Who signs a bill into law after Congress passes it?
A: The President
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Congress has two chambers instead of one?
- How does representation in the House differ from representation in the Senate?
- Why are committees important before a bill is voted on?
- How can citizens share opinions about laws they care about?
- What kind of law would you propose to improve your community or school?
Classroom Transformation Ideas
- Create a “Legislative Command Vault” mission wall with a bill tracker and evidence notes.
- Set up two stations labeled “House” and “Senate” to represent the chambers.
- Use a timer and “vote cards” to simulate debate and quick voting rounds.
- Play quiet government building ambience during the adventure for immersion.
- Assign roles like “Committee Chair,” “Floor Speaker,” or “Bill Reporter.”
DIY Excavation Activity
No-mess option:
- Hide a small object or “law token” in a paper cup.
- Cover it with shredded paper or crumpled paper to represent archived documents.
- Students excavate carefully using a spoon or craft stick and record observations.
- Have students explain what rule the token might represent and how it could become a law.
Standards Alignment
- Describe the structure and role of Congress in the U.S. government.
- Explain differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Outline key steps in the process of how laws are made.
- Identify how public access and civic learning support democracy.
Free Printable Trading Cards
Download free printable trading cards that match Lawmakers Under Lockdown. Each card reinforces U.S. Capitol and lawmaking concepts used in the adventure and supports collection based learning.