Writing Letters to Legislators

Overview

This lesson examines the importance of communicating with legislators. Students analyze letters and explain whether or not they think the letter is an effective form of communication.

Grade Levels

5 – 8

Objectives

Students will:

• identify their representatives;
• explain why it is important for citizens to communicate with their representatives;
• describe various ways citizens can communicate with their legislator; and
• analyze guidelines for writing effective letters to legislators.

Estimated Time

1 day

Materials Needed

• E-Learning Module: Getting Involved
• Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
• Projection device

Procedure

1. Ask students if they can name their representatives. Use a projection device to show them the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and your state government's Web sites. Tell students how they can identify their representatives.
2. Talk about why it is important for citizens of a representative democracy to keep in touch with their representatives.
3. Have students name some ways citizens can communicate with their legislators. Ask students if they think that one form of communication is better than another. If so, why?
4. Show students the videos under "Contacting Your Legislators Effectively" in the Getting Involved E-Learning module. Talk about the effectiveness of individual communication and letter writing to representatives.
5. Have the class describe things that should be included in an effective letter to a legislator. Ask students to name some things you shouldn't say in a letter to a legislator.
6. Use a projection device or duplicate and distribute the American Library Association's How to Write to a Legislator and Communicating with Elected Officials from Congress.org. Make sure students understand the fundamentals of writing to elected officials.
7. Visit the Congress.org Web site and examine the Letters to Leaders. Select five letters to share with students. Guide students in considering which letters are effective and which letters are ineffective. Encourage students explain why they think some letters are more effective than others.

Extension Activities

Invite one of your representatives to speak to the class. Ask him or her to explain how constituents can communicate with him or her. Have the representative describe what he or she thinks are effective forms of communication.

Have students identify an issue of concern to them. Ask students to write a letter to one of their representatives about the issue.

Assessment

Basic Concepts and Processes

Ask your students to respond to the following requests for information and assess their knowledge of key concepts taught in this lesson.

1. Name your U.S. Representative, U.S. Senators, and local, state representative.
2. Why is it important for citizens to communicate with their representatives?
3. Describe at least three ways citizens can effectively communicate with their legislator.

Lesson Plan Feedback

If you have suggestions for improving this lesson plan, or if you have ideas for others using the module, please let us know. We value your input. Thank you!

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