|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
Making Laws
Please select your state to view the corresponding standards:
Overview
In this lesson students will examine how legislators debate, discuss, and pass into law the public policies that affect our lives.
Grade Levels
5 - 8
Objectives
Students will:
- list examples of how laws have impacted their daily lives; and
- describe how legislators debate, discuss, and pass into law public policies that affect individuals and society.
Estimated Time
2 days
Materials Needed
- E-Learning Module: An Ordinary Day
- Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
- Projection device
- Pencil and paper
Procedure
Advance Preparation
Several days before conducting this lesson, invite a legislator from your district to speak to the class. Explain to the legislator that you would like him or her to discuss how legislators debate, discuss, and pass into law the public policies that affect our lives. Tell the legislator that prior to his or her visit you will send some questions generated by the students.
Day 1
- Explain to students that through the years Members of Congress have passed many laws that have improved their quality of life. Ask students to think of some examples of laws that have impacted them.
- Use a projection device to show students the An Ordinary Day E-Learning Module.
- For homework have students read the local newspaper or watch or listen to the news and identify some policy issues that their legislators are currently discussing.
Day 2
- Compile a list of issues that the students have found. As a class, choose one issue that the students are most interested in by taking a majority vote. Explain that legislatures decide most issues before them by a majority vote.
- Explain to students that one of their legislators will visit the class. Have students create a list of questions about the policy issue. They should formulate questions that will help them learn why legislators are discussing the issue and understand the debates that are taking place regarding the issue. Students should also develop questions that will help them learn how the chosen policy will affect them.
- Ask students to write a paper that summarizes what they learned from their legislator. This paper should include:
- a brief description of the legislator,
- a summary of the policy issue,
- an explanation of why legislators are discussing the issue,
- a description of the debates regarding the issue, and
- a description of how the policy will affect them.
Extension Activity
Explain to students that in the United States citizens have the right to try to influence the decisions legislators make about addressing problems in the local community or nation. Discuss how citizens can influence public policy.
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.
- List at least two examples of how laws have impacted your life.
- Describe how legislators debate, discuss, and pass into law public policies that affect individuals and society.
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.
- List at least two examples of how laws have impacted your life.
- Describe how legislators debate, discuss, and pass into law public policies that affect individuals and society.
Scoring Guide for Paper
| Elements | Possible Score | Assigned Score | Notes |
| Correct spelling and grammar | 5 | ||
| Good beginning, middle, and end | 5 | ||
| Describes the legislator | 15 | ||
|
Summarizes the policy issue |
15 | ||
| Explains why legislators discussed the issue | 20 | ||
| Describes the debates that took place regarding the issue | 20 | ||
|
Explains how the policy will affect them |
20 |
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!