Lesson Plan: Final Assessment - Creating a Citizen's Guide to Congress

SUBJECTS

U.S. Government, Civics

GRADE LEVEL

6-8

OBJECTIVES

Building upon the lessons developed by Hilary Conklin, students in this final lesson will summarize how Congress was created, including the legacy of the Roman Republic and the importance of the Great Compromise; explain the powers and duties of Congress that are laid out in Article I of the Constitution; identify his/her state's representatives and Senators and explain methods of contacting them; write or revise a sample letter voicing a concern to a Senator or Representative; take a position and write a position statement on the importance of participating in government; and create an organized, visually appealing, informational pamphlet.

LESSON PLAN

Class 1

Give students "Creating a Citizen's Guide to Congress" handout. Introduce assignment, read through together, answer questions. Have students work with a partner to brainstorm, refresh their memories, and jot down notes on Congress' creation, powers and duties of Congress, and ways to contact Congressmen (they should use old notes, handouts, etc.

Class 2

Compose/revise letter to Congressman (see lesson: "Making your views known: writing a letter to Congress"). Write drafts of summary paragraphs.

Class 3

Brainstorm position statement-use "Organizing your position statement" graphic organizer to help.

Class 4

Work on layout of pamphlet: Begin with class brainstorm of what makes an effective pamphlet (good layout, clear headings, easy-to-read and understand information, neat, etc.). Brainstorm headings for sections with partner and order of information/layout

Class 5

Work day with peer editing and revisions

RESOURCES

Paper

Student notes and handouts from previous lessons

Research resources (textbooks, internet, etc.)

"Creating a Citizen's Guide to Congress" (handout)

"Organizing your position statement" (handout)

CREDIT

Hilary G. Conklin

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