SUBJECTS

U.S. Government, Civics

 GRADE LEVEL

11-12

The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with their senators and representatives by utilizing a variety of web sites. Students will explore their own positions on issues and then compare them with positions and policy decisions of the senators and representative. Finally, students will take part in the political process by communicating their views with a member of Congress and develop a greater understanding of the workings of a representative democracy.

 LESSON PLAN

Class 1

Present an overview of the lesson to the students reviewing the concepts of a direct democracy and a representative democracy and why the U.S. has a representative democracy. Take the class to your internet facility (or modify as facilities permit) and log on to the web site http://www.votesmart.org/. Give each student a study guide and have them identify and find information about their senators and representative using the internet. Discuss the positions of importance in Congress and the factors that influence a Congress member’s power and effectiveness. Have the students determine which of the three members they are investigating seems to have the most influential position.

Class 2

Have students complete the issue position survey to help students determine their own views and priorities on issues facing Congress (this may be done as homework). Review the concept of an interest group and discuss the focus of a few groups for examples. Have each student select a few of the areas they are interested in. Students should then identify groups that deal with issues that relate to the areas they have selected as important to themselves.

Class 2-3

Take the class to your internet facility and log on to the web site www.votesmart.org. Students can then select the page on rating members of Congress. Students should then see how some of the interest groups have rated their senators and representatives on issues selected by the students. From here they will have the opportunity to go directly to web sites of interest groups concerned with their areas of interest. Have the students select one of their three members of Congress that they see as being most involved (either in a positive or negative way) with an issue they feel is important. The students should then collect evidence of their representatives position on the issue and record it.

Class 3-4

Students are to write an e-mail or letter to the representative they have chosen stating their views on the issue they have selected. They should also address the representative’s position on that issue and the reasons why or why not they support his decisions. These communications will be shared with the class and discussed encouraging suggestions to increase the effectiveness of the letters.

*Culminating activity- At some later date share communications from the members of Congress who respond and discuss the issues of political effectiveness and citizen responsibility in a representative democracy.

 RESOURCES

 Students require access to the Internet to do research, primarily on CongressLink.

 CREDIT

Larry Petrillo
1341 St. James Ct
Palatine, IL 60067