Civics and Government Lesson Plan
Lesson Title: Town Council Simulaton
Lesson Author: Joe Harmon
Grade Level: 6-8th
Rationale/Purpose of the Lesson:
One of the goals of civic education is to instill the vitality of civic engagement in society. Local
government is an arena closest to each member of society and holds the potential key for
reinvigorating active civic participation.
Background/Context:
This is the first lesson in a unit on civic participation in local, state, and national
government.
NCSS Theme: Power, authority and governance
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.1 - Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and
relevant evidence
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.10 - Write routinely over extended time frames (time for
research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or
two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will learn how to…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Participate in a simulated town council meeting
Write a formal business letter to their local, elected government official
Explain the ways citizens and government institutions resolve conflicts in society
Provide examples of the roles and responsibilities of citizens and government
officials in local governance.
Procedures:
1. Opening Motivator - Advise the class that they will be participating in a mock town
council meeting: Three students will be elected to represent the class in their fictitious
town of Civicville. The remaining students will serve as citizens of Civicville.
2. Whole Class Brainstorm – Before council persons are elected, brainstorm the typical
responsibilities of the local government. (e.g. establishing schools; ensuring the
safety of all citizens; providing services such as water, garbage pickup, sewage, etc.;
providing parks and recreation)
3. Elections – Ask students to nominate their classmates for positions on Civicville’s
Town Council. Hold class elections for three Council spots; those who achieve the
most classroom votes are Council members. The remaining students are citizens of
Civicville.
4. Town Council Simulation – Provide each student with a Town Council Simulation
handout (Appendix A). Assign “citizen” students to small groups (3 or 4 per group).
Advise the Council members that they will meet as a group.
a. Round 1: Tell the students that they will work together during Round 1.
b. Brainstorm, as a class, possible problems that could exist in the town of
Civicville (e.g. pollution, crime, littering, etc.).
c. Assign each grouping of citizens one of three problems as brainstormed in
class, and task them with developing three questions they could pose
concerning their assigned problem. Council Members are to create at least
one solution for each of the three problems.
d. Allow students enough time to complete the above task.
e. Conduct Round 1 of the Town Council Simulation
i. Citizens will take turns bringing forth their problems and posing
questions to the Council. Council members are tasked with addressing
the questions. This can take as long as needed or as long as students
are contributing productively.
ii. Council Members will provide their solutions to the problems.
Citizens should be prompted to respond to the solutions. The teacher
will facilitate discussion.
f. As a class, choose one of the problems to focus upon prior to completing
Round 2.
g. Round 2: Students will work individually to complete Round 2. Students are
to come up with a new ordinance for Civicville that would help resolve the
given problem. They will address whether the new ordinance is fair,
enforceable, accomplishes its purposes, and understandable. They will also
address the possible consequences, both good and bad, of such a rule.
h. Conduct Round 2 of the Town Council Simulation
i. Allow citizen students and Council Members to suggest new
ordinances. Both Council Members and citizens will debate whether
the rule is fair, enforceable, accomplishes its purposes, and
understandable. They should also discuss the consequences of said
rules.
ii. This process can continue until they have exhausted potential new
ordinances.
iii. In the end, Council Members should vote on potential new ordinances.
5. Formal business letter: Students will follow the instructions provided in Appendix B
to write a formal business letter to their local government official(s).
Appendix A
TOWN COUNCIL SIMULATION
Round 1: “We’ve got Problems”
Your Role (circle one):
Citizen
Town Council
Citizens Task
What is your assigned problem in the town of Civicville? _______________________________
Questions you have about the problem:
1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
Council Members Task
Suggestions for resolving the problems:
1. Problem? _________________________ Solution? _____________________________
2. Problem? _________________________ Solution? _____________________________
3. Problem? _________________________ Solution? _____________________________
Round 2: “We need a new rule”
Idea for new ordinance: ________________________________________
Is it fair? _________
Is it easily enforced? ___________ (if no, how could you make it better?)
Is it easily understandable? ___________ (if no, how could you make it better?)
Does it accomplish its purposes? ____________ (if no, how could you make it better?)
Does it serve the common good or an individual interest? _______________________
What would be the possible consequences (both good and bad) if the rule were enacted?
Appendix B
FORMAL BUSINESS LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Now that you understand the responsibilities of local government, some potential problems, and
how local governments attempt to resolve problems, it is your turn to be an actively engaged
citizen and write a letter to your local government official about a real problem.
Step 1: Investigate an actual problem that exists in your local community by talking to
neighbors, relatives, teachers, or anyone else that may know. Choose one problem to address in
your letter.
My chosen local community problem is: _____________________________________________
Step 2: Write down three questions you have about the problem:
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Write down one solution you have for the problem
________________________________________________________________________
Step 4: List at least two advantages and two disadvantages of the solution you posed above:
Advantages:
1. ____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
1. ____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
Step 5: Write a formal business letter to your local government official using the letter format
below:
All work is left justified
Your full name
Address
City, State (spelled out; i.e. Pennsylvania – not PA) Zip Code
Date (written in full; i.e. October 20, 2013)
Name of your local government official
Address of local government official
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr. or Mrs. (Last Name),
Introduction Paragraph: 3-4 sentences. Introduce yourself and provide the
purpose of your letter.
Body Paragraph: At least 5 sentences. Provide a topic sentence, state the
problem you chose for your community, three questions, a solution, and the
advantages and disadvantages of your solution.
Conclusion paragraph: 3 sentences. Restate the problem and possible
solution and thank them for reading your letter.
Sincerely,
Your name here
Sign your name in blue or black
ink