Educator Toolkit Classroom Plans · Plan 1

Extended Classroom Plan

With Debate and Parliamentary Procedure Basics

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Educator Toolkit Classroom Plans · Plan 1

Extended Classroom Plan

From first idea to conference, one week at a time

4 to 6 weeks of class time or weekly club meetings

Teacher note. Designed for 4 to 6 weeks of class time or weekly club meetings. Adjust the pace to your state's bill deadline.

You will be able to

  • Identify how state government affects daily life.
  • Explain the legislative process.
  • Evaluate sources and analyze multiple perspectives.
  • Write an argument and give constructive feedback.
  • Speak and listen using rules of order and civil discourse.

Teacher note. These are the skills addressed across the six weeks. Others: describe the roles of citizens in a democracy, close reading of primary legal texts, public speaking, preparation and responsibility.

Timing by state

  • NY Middle School: start in September for October 28 bills
  • CT, RI and NY High School: start by December for February deadlines

Teacher note. Short on weeks? Weeks 3 and 4 are the heart of it. With only three meetings, do Week 1, then run the two-period Bill Writing Workshop and fold parliamentary procedure into the second period.

Week 1

Interest and Orientation

  1. Program video
  2. Student journey and roles
  3. Brainstorm local problems
ListenWeek 1

Watch the program video

How does state government affect your daily life?

ListenWeek 1

Journey and roles

Teacher note. Explain the student journey (see "Student Journey") and the roles (see "Roles Students Can Take") in the Educator Toolkit.

ThinkWeek 1

Brainstorm local problems

What local problems do you care about?

Week 2

How a Bill Becomes Law

  1. Map the process
  2. Read a statute
  3. Pick an issue and team
DiscussWeek 2

Map the process

How does a bill become law in our state?

Teacher note. Map the real legislative process in your state.

ReadWeek 2

Read a statute

Teacher note. Read one current statute together. Practice close reading of a primary legal text.

Group workWeek 2

Pick an issue

Pick an issue and a partner or team.

Week 3

Research

  1. Find the current law
  2. Gather data and viewpoints
  3. Bill Builder Worksheet
ResearchWeek 3

Find the current law

Find the current law your bill will change.

ResearchWeek 3

Gather evidence

Gather data and at least two viewpoints.

Teacher note. Skills: evaluate sources and evidence, analyze multiple perspectives.

WriteWeek 3

Fill in the Bill Builder

Teacher note. Use the Bill Builder Worksheet (Plan 3).

Week 4

Writing Workshop

  1. Bill Writing Workshop
  2. Peer review
  3. Revise and submit
WriteWeek 4

Bill Writing Workshop

Teacher note. Run the Bill Writing Workshop Lesson Plan (Plan 2).

ReviewWeek 4

Peer review

Review a classmate's bill using the ranking criteria.

Teacher note. Skill: constructive feedback.

WriteWeek 4

Revise and submit

Revise and submit by our state's deadline.

Week 5

Parliamentary Procedure

  1. Order of debate and motions
  2. Mock committee hearing

How each bill is heard

  1. Opening: sponsors present the bill (4 minutes). Unused time is saved for the closing.
  2. Technical questions: facts only, not opinions.
  3. Debate: con and pro alternate, starting and ending with a con. About 1 minute each.
  4. Closing: sponsors respond and sum up.
  5. Decision: committees rank bills; chambers vote. A simple majority passes.

Teacher note. From Debate and Parliamentary Procedure Basics, a one-page reference for Week 5 that can be posted in your classroom.

Veto overrides

If time allows, a vetoed bill can be overridden with a two-thirds vote of the chamber.

Motions

In committee

  • Point of information
  • Point of order
  • Point of personal privilege

In chamber, also

  • Division of the house
  • Extending debate
  • Previous question (ending debate), needs a two-thirds vote

Decorum

  • Speak through the chair: "Thank you, Chair. [Name], [delegation]."
  • Refer to others as "a previous speaker."
  • Debate the bill, never the person.
  • No props and no clapping after a vote.

Say it

Thank you, Chair. [Name], Saratoga delegation. I rise in opposition. A previous speaker said the bill is paid for, but Section 3 names no funding source...

A con speaker

Teacher note. Try it: have students practice this recognition formula before the mock hearing. The full rules and chair script are in the front of each conference Bill Book.

DebateWeek 5

Mock committee hearing

Hear two student bills using the order of debate.

Teacher note. Skills: speaking and listening, rules of order and civil discourse.

Week 6

Conference Prep

  1. Practice speeches
  2. Review the Bill Book
  3. Conduct, dress code, logistics
PresentWeek 6

Practice speeches

  • 4-minute openings
  • 1-minute speeches
ReadWeek 6

Review the Bill Book

Read the Bill Book and prepare your questions.

ListenWeek 6

Conduct and logistics

Teacher note. Cover conduct, dress code, and logistics. Skills: preparation and responsibility.

Ready for conference

Next: Plan 2, Bill Writing Workshop

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