Communicating with Legislators

Please select your state to view the corresponding standards:

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict_of_ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettesMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew_HampshireNew_JerseyNew_MexicoNew_YorkNorth_CarolinaNorth_DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode_IslandSouth_CarolinaSouth_DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest_VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

 

Overview

In this lesson students will discuss why it is important to communicate with their legislators and will learn about effective ways to do so. Students will then create a radio public service announcement about why it is important for citizens to vote and to communicate their ideas to their legislators.

 

Grade Levels

5–8

 

Objectives

Students will:

• explain why it is important to communicate with legislators;
• describe three ways to communicate with legislators; and
• create a radio public service announcement that explains why it is important to vote and to communicate with legislators and describes how to communicate with legislators.

Estimated Time

1 day

 

Materials Needed

• E-Learning Module: Understanding Representative Democracy
• Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
• Projection device
• Pencil and paper

Procedure

1. Ask your students to describe what a legislator does. Make sure students understand that legislators represent the people in their districts or states and should work to support legislation that serves their districts or states. Tell them most legislators come from the areas they represent, have residence there, still have family and friends living there, and want to help, not hurt, their own communities.
2. Ask your students whether or not they think legislators listen to their constituents. Discuss why they do or do not believe legislators listen to their constituents. Ask them to discuss how legislators can find out what is best for the areas they represent before they vote.
3. Explain that a legislator’s responsibility is to consider what is best for the country at large, as well as to find out what their constituents want. Tell them that legislators are interested in what people have to say because they know they need to stay in touch with voters if they are to get reelected.
4. Explain to students that a citizen’s responsibility is to communicate with legislators to share his or her ideas and to vote. Discuss why it is important to communicate with legislators.
5. Use a projection device to show students “Contacting Legislators Effectively” and “Your Voice Counts” from the Understanding Representative Democracy E-Learning Module. Encourage your students to take notes and to answer the following questions:
   1. Name and describe at least two effective ways to contact your representative.
   2. Identify one form of communication that is not effective.
   3. Why is it important to vote?
   4. Discuss the answers to these questions.
6. Tell students that they will create a 60-second radio public service announcement. The public service announcement should do two things: briefly explain why it is important to vote and communicate with legislators, and describe how to communicate with legislators effectively. If time permits, allow student volunteers to share their public service announcement with the class.

Extension and Adaptation Activities

Extension Activities

Invite your local representative to visit your class and discuss how he or she keeps in touch with constituents. Have students contact their representatives regarding an issue about which they are concerned. Before they do, tell them to read “Communicating with Congress” in the “Congress Today” section of the Center on Congress Web site.

Have students do some research and call the local district offices of a representative or state offices of a senator and ask them on average how many letters, email, phone calls, and visits they receive from their constituents every week. The posters should list the email addresses for the local representative and for the state’s two senators. It should also include information on their open office hours [no appointment necessary] and the addresses of the nearest local office.

 

Cross-Curricular Activity: Art

Have students create a poster that encourages people to participate in government. This poster should explain why it is important and list some effective ways of communicating with your legislators. Allow students to hang these posters up around the school.

 

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. Explain why it is important to communicate with legislators.
2. Describe three ways to communicate with legislators.

Scoring Guide for Radio Public Service Announcement

Elements	Possible Score	Assigned Score	Notes
The announcement is clear and concise and captures the audience’s attention	5
The announcement is 60 seconds in length	5
Explains why it is important to vote	30
Explains why it is important to communicate with legislators	30
Describes how to communicate with legislators	30

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!

Feedback: