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A Typical Day in Washington, D.C.
Overview
This lesson examines what a Member of Congress does during a typical day at work in Washington. Students read a letter in which John Adams describes his work in the Continental Congress. Students then write their own letter describing life in Congress.
Grade Levels
5 – 8
Objectives
Students will:
- explain what a Member of Congress does during a typical day;
- identify the requirements for being a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative; and
- name at least five things a legislator does.
Estimated Time
2 days
Materials Needed
- E-Learning Module: The Many Roles of a Member of Congress
- Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
- Projection device
- Chalkboard and a piece of chalk or a whiteboard and marker
- One copy of Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1774
- Pen or Pencil
- Paper
Procedure
- Ask students to name some things they think their representative does during a typical day. Write student responses on the chalkboard or whiteboard.
- Explain to students that the schedule of a Member of Congress can be fairly hectic with lots of interruptions. Then tell students that you will now look at the schedule of a Member of Congress. Use a projection device to show students "A Day in the Life" from The Many Roles of a Member of Congress E-learning module.
- Direct students' attention to the list written on the board. Then add additional items, based on what students learned while viewing the E-learning module.
- Explain to students that John Adams and his wife, Abigail Adams, exchanged many letters. A good number of the letters John Adams wrote described what he did while he was in the Continental Congress. Give each student a copy of "Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 October 1774."
- Have students read this letter. Ask students whether or not they think that Members of Congress today experience some of the same frustrations that John Adams did. Then talk about some of the pros and cons of being a Member of Congress.
- Tell students to imagine that they are a U.S. Senator or Representative. Then have them write a letter to a member of their family in which they describe a typical day in Washington, D.C., discuss the workload of Congress, and describe some of the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.
Extension and Adaptation Activities
Extension Activity
Visit the U.S. Senate Web site and look at the Résumé of Congressional Activity. Have students use the information posted at this site, as well as information gathered from The Many Roles of a Member of Congress E-learning module to create a "Help Wanted" ad for the job of a congressman.
Cross-curricular Activity
Ask students to read What a United States Senator Does by Roy Hoopes. Talk about the job of a Member of Congress. Then have students create an oral presentation about the role of a Member of Congress from the perspective of one of the senators featured in the book.
Assessment
Basic Concepts and Processes
- Explain what a Member of Congress does during a typical day.
- Describe the workload of Congress.
- Describe some of the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.
Scoring Guide for Letter
| Elements | Possible Score | Assigned Score | Notes |
| Correct spelling | 5 | ||
| Correct grammar (sentence structure, punctuation) | 10 | ||
| Good beginning, middle, and end | 10 | ||
| Describes a typical day in D.C. | 25 | ||
| Describes the workload of Congress | 25 | Describes the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress | 25 |
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!