Commissioner of Public Lands

7:35

Overview:

What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark.

This video examines the role of the Commissioner of Public Lands, the person who runs the Department of Natural Resources in Washington State. By focusing on the responsibilities that the Commissioner has over the millions of acres of public lands, viewers will understand the importance the state of Washington puts upon the management of our natural resources.

Essential Questions:

  • What are the roles and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Public Lands?
  • How does the Department of Natural Resources use land to support public schools?
  • How does the Department of Natural Resources balance the need to protect our environment with continuing to raise money for the State?

Objectives:

  1. Understand the role of the Commissioner of Public Lands in State Government
  2. Evaluate the Constitutional requirement to use funds from Washington’s working forests on education
  3. Explain how government is accountable to the people
Grade Level Standards:
  • Middle School: 6th – 8th
    • C2.6-8. 2 Distinguish the structure, organization, powers, and limits of government at the local, state, and tribal levels.
    • C4.6-8.3 Employ strategies for civic involvement that ad­dress a state or local issue.
  • High School: 9th – 12th
    • C2.11-12.1 Analyze citizens’ and institutions’ effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national and/or international level.
    • C4.11-12.2 Analyze and evaluate ways of influencing local, state, and national governments and international organizations to establish or preserve individual rights and/or promote the common good.
About this Lesson Plan:
  • Both the Teacher Guide and the Student Notebook are in a downloadable Google Folder so teachers and students can use them online, with Google Classroom, or printed out. 
  • The lessons are designed to be used as written OR teachers can use them part and parcel and choose the components that work best for their students and classroom time.