SUBJECTS

U.S. Government, Civics, U.S. History

 GRADE LEVEL

6-8

In this lesson, students view an excerpt of the classic film "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" to learn how a bill is created and presented in Congress. Students then work in groups to develop and present their own bills to the class. Students will be able to review the steps required for a bill to become a law, learn how to prepare and present a bill, write and explain a bill they have created, debate and decide which bill out of class has most potential for success, and identify issues of concern in the community and nation.

 LESSON PLAN

Class 1

As a class, review the steps of a bill becoming law. Give students an overview of what "Mr. Smith" is about, and events leading up to the point they will begin viewing. (At the beginning of the movie, Senator Sam Foley dies in Washington. The governor of the state wants to find a replacement Senator who won't find out about some corrupt business they are doing, so he is persuaded to appoint a man named Jefferson Smith. Smith is a local hero and youth leader with no political experience-he is considered a "simpleton." So, Smith is officially appointed as Senator and gets on a train with the other Senator, Joseph Harrison Paine, to Washington, DC. As soon as they arrive in Washington, Smith is so excited to see the Capitol building that he gets separated from Senator Paine and wanders out of the train station.)Show excerpt: (recommended excerpt: about 40 minutes START--21 minutes in, scene is Mr. Smith on a tour bus seeing the sights of DC FINISH-60 minutes in, scene is Mr. Smith introducing his bill to Senate). As students watch, they take notes to answer "preparing and presenting a bill" handout.

Class 2

Discuss handout on Mr. Smith excerpt. (you should probably tell students that Mr. Smith wins in the end-if they're curious). Discuss what his bill was (to create a national boys camp), what he had to do to write it (explain the why, when, where, how, and everything else) and present it (stand up in Senate and present bill). As class, brainstorm issues of concern in the community and nation. What are some issues that need a law to improve the situation? Put students in groups. In groups, the students choose an issue and bill they will propose. In groups, students write up basics of bill in "writing your own bill" handout.

Class 3

Each group selects a speaker-speaker presents the group's bill. Students as a whole class then debate which bill has the greatest chance of actual success (passage) and defend why. Write up nominations on board. Students individually vote on which bill they would pass. Share results!

 RESOURCES

 Film "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" (widely available at video stores, libraries, through educational resource catalogs)

 TV and VCR

 "Preparing and presenting a bill" (handout)

 "Writing your own bill" (handout)

 CREDIT:

Hilary G. Conklin