Educator Toolkit and lesson plans.
Everything you need to start a delegation and teach the Youth and Government process in your classroom. Read it online, download it, or project the lessons as slides.
2026-27 edition
Youth and Government Educator Toolkit
For teachers, counselors and YMCA staff in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
- Program overview, student roles and key dates for every state.
- How to get started, with outreach templates you can customize.
- FAQs and IT guidance for school networks.
- Ready-to-use classroom plans: a Bill Writing Workshop, a one-period Fast Track to Your First Bill, and a Literary Character Court.
- Public Speaking Skill Builders: 15 short drills students can run themselves.
New to the program? Read The program chapter, submit the free Intent Form on your state's page, and book a call with us. Everything else can wait.
Read online
The toolkit, chapter by chapter
Every page of the toolkit as a web page you can read on a phone, share as a link, or use with a screen reader.
- 01WelcomeA letter to educators, your role, and how to read the toolkit.
- 02The programWhat the program is, how to join, cost and aid, the student journey and student roles.
- 03Key dates and getting startedEvery 2026-27 date for New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island, and how to get started.
- 04In the classroomWhy it works in a classroom, bill writing tips, and leadership and national opportunities.
- 05The conferencePreparing your delegation, celebrating participation, and what students and advisors say.
- 06FAQs and IT guidanceAnswers to common questions, plus IT guidance for school networks.
- 07Resources and templatesKey links and customizable templates for outreach.
- 08Classroom plansChoose a plan by the time you have. Includes the Extended Classroom Plan and debate basics.
- 09Public Speaking Skill BuildersFifteen short drills for storytelling, delivery, confidence, impromptu speaking and brevity.
- 10Bill Writing WorkshopA two-period lesson: finding the problem and the law, then drafting and peer review.
- 11Fast Track to Your First BillOne class period to a first bill, with the Bill Builder Worksheet.
- 12Literary Character CourtCharacter proposals, ranked choice voting and a literary mock trial.
New in the toolkit
Public Speaking Skill Builders
Fifteen short, repeatable drills for storytelling, delivery, confidence, impromptu speaking and brevity. Each takes 3 to 10 minutes, needs no materials, and the numbered steps are the script, so student leaders can run every drill themselves.
- 20 minutes, first meeting: drills 1, 5 and 7.
- 45 minutes, conference week: drills 9, 12, 13 and 15.
- CONA prep: drills 12, 13 and 14.
Storybook County Lesson Plans
Practice the process on public domain stories
14 stand-alone lessons of three or four 30-minute sessions, for grades 9 to 12 and adaptable for middle school. Students argue about Humpty Dumpty's wall and the Three Little Pigs' building code instead of real legislation, so the focus stays on the process and the skill.
Writing a Bill
An Act to Amend the Storybook County Building Code. Bill format, the original-law rule, underlining and strikeouts, and the Seal of State Approval checklist.
Committee Hearing and Bill Ranking
The hearing sequence, the Committee Chair's script, Clerk duties, the ranking rubric, and which bills advance.
Floor Debate and Parliamentary Procedure
The Humpty Dumpty Wall Safety Act. Recognition and decorum, motions, amendments, previous question, division and the vote.
Presiding Officer Training
Gavel signals, the chair's script, ruling on points of order, keeping time, and the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms roles.
The Governor's Cabinet and Veto Override
Cabinet bill review, the Comptroller's fiscal review, the signing meeting, veto messages and the two-thirds override.
The Governor's Theme and State of the State
Choosing a theme, drafting the Opening, State of the State and Closing speeches, and the Lieutenant Governor's service focus.
Running for Office and Elections
Candidate forms, the three-minute speech tied to a core value, press conference questions and voting.
Lobbyists and Youth Advocates
Representing an interest group, interviewing a sponsor, writing a one-page leave behind, and advocacy ethics.
The Press Corps
The Storybook Gazette: news writing, interviews, photo shot lists, the nightly broadcast, social posts and media literacy.
The Court of Appeals
Wolf v. Storybook County. The appellate brief, oral argument before a five-justice panel, and the written opinion.
Middle School Resolutions
Writing and presenting a resolution with a partner in a simplified debate format. Designed for grades 6 to 8.
Core Value Speeches
Short speeches on caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, delivered as a character, with peer feedback.
Service Learning and the Service Focus
Learning objectives, action, reflection and evaluation applied to a community need from a story.
Proposals and Roundtables (CONA)
Writing and presenting a proposal on a national-scale problem, then a roundtable reflection.
Legislative unit
Lessons 1 to 5: write bills, hear them in committee, debate them with student presiding officers, and send them to a student Governor and Cabinet.
Full model-government unit
Lessons 1 to 9, then a one-day classroom State Conference.
From charge to trial to appeal
The Literary Character Court in the Educator Toolkit, then Lesson 10, the Court of Appeals.
Speeches and service
Lessons 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14.
Civic Seal units
Civic Seal units for Youth and Government
Seven multi-week projects that turn Youth and Government work into the documented evidence a school Seal Committee can review. Schools and districts decide what counts, so confirm with yours before a student starts.
The Civics Capstone Through Youth and Government
A full bill project with testimony to real officials, following the nine steps in NYSED's sample capstone assignment. Grades 11 to 12.
Can count toward: NY Civics Capstone Project (4 points). RI student-led civics project. CT civic engagement project and portfolio evidence.
Policy Advocacy Through a Bill
Research an issue, evaluate current policy, write a bill and send recommendations to officials.
Can count toward: NY High School Civics Project (1.5 points, up to twice). RI student-led civics project. CT portfolio evidence.
The School Equity Review
Analyze your school's own data, review the code of conduct and bring recommendations to school leaders.
Can count toward: NY High School Civics Project (1.5 points). RI student-led civics project. CT portfolio evidence.
The Service Focus Project
25 hours of service-learning built around the Lieutenant Governor's service focus.
Can count toward: NY Service-Learning Project (1 point). CT civic engagement project.
The Legislative Research Project
A research paper and memorandum of support built on the original law, its history and other states' approaches. Grades 10 to 12.
Can count toward: NY Research Project (1 Civic Knowledge point). CT portfolio evidence.
The Youth and Government Portfolio
A log, artifacts and a reflective presentation documenting 40 hours of a delegation year.
Can count toward: NY Extracurricular participation (0.5 points). CT civic engagement project.
The Student-Led Civics Project
A resolution-based project for grades 6 to 8, with a high school version.
Can count toward: NY Middle School Capstone Project (1 point, grades 7 to 8). RI student-led civics project. CT portfolio evidence.
Make it better
Written for teachers, improved by teachers
Taught a lesson, found a mistake, or have a lesson of your own? Every note helps the next class. We are especially looking for kindergarten to grade 3 teachers to help write the early grades of Storybook County.
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