Civic Participation - Lesson Plans

General Overview

For government to be effective in a representative democracy, it is important for citizens to become involved and take an active role in it. This E-Learning module introduces students to the many avenues of participation. View the "how to" document.

Lessons and Assessments

The Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens (Grades 5 – 8)
This lesson describes the basic rights guaranteed to a U.S. citizen under the Bill of Rights and the responsibilities that come with them.

Express Your Opinion (Grades 5 – 8)
Students will learn about the local, state, and national levels of government and discuss which level of government they should contact to get information, express their opinions, or get help regarding specific issues.

How to Monitor Elected Officials (Grades 5 – 8)
This lesson describes how U.S. citizens can contact their elected officials and monitor their actions.

Participating in the Political Process (Grades 9 – 12)
Students will describe the means that U.S. citizens may use to participate in the political process.

A Closer Look at Voting Patterns (Grades 9 – 12)
In this lesson, students will discuss why it is important to vote, analyze the costs and benefits of voting, and identify ways to increase voter turnout.

Influencing Public Policy (Grades 9 – 12)
Students will take a position on a current policy issue and describe how to influence its formation, development, and implementation.

Other Resources

Glossary: The glossary provides definitions for key terms that students should know in order to complete the corresponding module.

Web sites: This section includes a list of current Web sites about civic participation.

Print Materials: This section lists resources about civic participation for both teachers and students.