Elementary Model Congress Homework (2024-25)

 Homework Due on November 23, 2024: Week 12
 Please study the “slides” from Week 10… [Slideshow Week 10 (PDF)]. <– just in case you still need it!
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Review the activity summary to be better prepared for our next in-class activity… [Activity: US Congress (PDF)].
  2. Complete the quiz and turn it in to me: [Quiz 11 (PDF)]. <– pls turn it in! (I need this right away, it was due last week).
  Note: Please email the quiz (and your bill) to me at billeddy@gmail.com. Also, please put your name on it. tyvm! 🙂
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Update your BILL and turn it in before the next class: [Bill Writing Template (PDF)], [Sample Bill (PDF)]. <– pls turn it in!
  2. Write a [two minute] SPEECH and practice speaking about your bill and encourage others to support it. <– pls do NOT turn in!
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking about your bill (like a speech). What does it do, how will it impact the community, ask others for support.
  2. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order” (scroll down for slides and reminders). 

 Homework Due on November 16, 2024: Week 11
 Please study the “slides” from Week 10… [Slideshow Week 10 (PDF)].
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Read the activity summary to be prepared for our next in-class activity… [Activity: US Congress (PDF)].
  2. Take the activity quiz based on the slides and the activity guide: [Quiz 11 (PDF)]. <– pls turn it in!
  Note: Unlike what we did previously for most quizzes, please turn this quiz in after you finish it (before, during, or even after class).
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Write a BILL and turn it in before the next class (follow the guidelines). [Bill Writing Template (PDF)], [Sample Bill (PDF)]. <– pls turn it in!
  2. Write a SPEECH and practice speaking about your bill and why it is desirable and encourage people to support it. <– pls do NOT turn in!
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking about your bill (like a speech). What does it do, how will it impact the community, ask others for support.
  2. Practice speaking in defense your bill (and similar solutions) – practice speaking clearly and with confidence!
  3. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order” (scroll down for slides and reminders).
  IMPORTANT: Please submit your bills via email. Please send me an email with your bill and it will be included in our end-of-class contest. 

 Homework Due on November 9, 2024: Week 10
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Re-watch the videos about; political parties, committees, and the US Congress (Watch the videos!). [Click Here].
  2. Re-Read the activity summary to be prepared for our next in-class activity… [Activity: US Congress (PDF)].
  3. Research any topic that you think is interesting/significant and write a bill about it for the activity (US Congress Simulation).
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking about your bill (like a speech). What does it do, how will it impact the community, ask for support.
  2. Practice speaking in defense your bill (and similar solutions) – practice speaking clearly and with confidence!
  3. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order” (scroll down for slides and reminders).
IMPORTANT: We will be submitting the bills via email. Please send me an email with your bill and I will review it and give you some advice about it. When we get together in class, we will divide into committee meetings and offer real bills to discuss and modify. After the changes are made, we submit those bills for the ‘real’ in-class contest. The contest is supposed to be fun-style learning and not meant to make you nervous. We will run it as realistically as possible.

 Homework Due on November 2, 2024: Week 9
 Please study the “slides” from Week 8… [Slideshow Week 8 (PDF)].
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Watch the videos about; political parties, committees, and the US Congress (Watch the videos!). [Click Here].
  2. Read the activity summary to be prepared for our next in-class activity… [Activity: US Congress (PDF)].
  3. Research any topic that you think is interesting/significant and write a bill about it for the activity (US Congress Simulation).
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-08 (PDF)]. 
  Note: We don’t submit the quiz as homework, please study from it and bring it to class. 🙂
  2. Write notes related to your choices for the upcoming simulation (FYI: Are you a Democrat or a Republican?).
  3. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
   Note: Please make your bill about anything that you truly believe would make life better for your constituents (people who elected you).
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking your speech about your bill. What does it do, how will it impact the community, ask for support.
  2. Practice speaking in defense your bill (and similar solutions) – practice speaking clearly and with confidence!
  3. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order” (scroll down for slides and reminders).
IMPORTANT: We will finish the City Council Meeting next week. Please come prepared with bills for both the Pets topic AND the Water topic too. Be ready to have a meeting and we need to take it a little more seriously so that we can solve these fake problems with our pretend solutions based on our real ideas. Thanks!

Homework Due on October 26, 2024: Week 8
 Please study the “slides” from Week 7… [Slideshow Week 7 (PDF)].
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 7” (Do you have questions?).
  2. Read the activity summary to be prepared for the in-class activity… [Activity: City Council (Meeting)].
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-07 (PDF)]. 
  Note: We don’t submit the quiz as homework, please study from it and bring it to class. 🙂
  2. Write notes related to your role for the meeting (FYI: City Council members will vote and they can offer bills too).
  3. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
   Note: Please make your bill about either “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” or the “Water Emergency” topics from class.
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking your speech about your bill. What does it do, how will it impact the community, ask for support.
  2. Practice speaking in defense your bill (and similar solutions) – practice speaking clearly and with confidence!
  3. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order” (scroll down for slides and reminders).

Homework Due on Week 7 (October 19, 2024): 
 Please study the “slides” from Week 6… [Slideshow Week 6 (PDF)].
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 6” (Do you have questions?).
  2. Read the activity summary to be prepared for the in-class activity… [Activity: City Council (Meeting)].
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-06 (PDF)]. 
  Note: We don’t submit the quiz as homework, please study from it and bring it to class. 🙂
  2. Write notes related to your role for the trial (Lawyers notes of speeches and questions, Witnesses notes of important information, and
     Jury notes of important facts. 
  3. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
   Note: Please make your bill about either “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” or the “Water Emergency” topics from class.
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking your role in the trial. Prepare to be a good witness to help your side win. 🙂
  2. Practice speaking about your bill (solutions) that you wrote – practice speaking it clearly and with confidence!
  3. Practice making motions and learning the procedures from “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

Homework Due on Week 6 (October 12, 2024): 
 Please study the “slides” from Week 5… [Slideshow Week 5 (PDF)].
 A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
  1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 5” (Do you have questions?).
  2. Read the activity summary to be prepared for the in-class activity… [Activity: Courtroom (Trial)].
 B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
  1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-05 (PDF)]. 
  2. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
   Note: Please make your bill about either “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” or the “Water Emergency” topics from class.
  3. [Optional] If you would like to be an attorney, then please write some notes/outlines for the trial simulation (see below!).
 C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
  1. Practice speaking about your bill (solutions) that you wrote – practice speaking it clearly and with confidence!
  2. Practice speaking for your role as attorney, witness, or judge/jury. Use the handouts (see below) to prepare for your speaking role.
  3. [Optional] If you wish to be an attorney, then please write an opening statement (what you will prove…) and a closing statement (what
     was said during the trial that supports your side!). Anyone wishing to be an attorney will be allowed to speak during the trial.
  IMPORTANT: Here are some handouts for the Courtroom Activity (Trial):
  [Witness Statements (PDF)], [Guide: Prosecutors (PDF)], [Guide: Defense Attorneys (PDF)], [Guide: Judge/Jury (PDF)],
  & [Common Objections (PDF)].

Homework Due on Week 5 (October 5, 2024): 
Please study the “slides” from Week 4… [Slideshow Week 4 (PDF)].
A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
 1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 4” (Do you have questions?).
 2. Read the activity summary to be prepared for the in-class activity… [Activity: Courtroom (Trial)].
 3. Watch all of the research video(s)… [Research Page].
B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
 1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-04 (PDF)]. 
 2. Write an outline for a BILL that you will introduce in the next class (follow the guidelines from the week 4 lesson).
  Note: Please make your bill about either “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” or the “Water Emergency” topics from class.
 3. [Optional] If you would like to be an attorney, then please write some notes/outlines for the trial simulation (see below!).
  Note: we will have time to write outlines during class. Please read the witness statements… [Witness Statements (See Below!)]. 
C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
 1. Practice speaking about the possible solutions to the water contamination crisis that were discussed during class.
 1. Practice speaking about your bill (solutions) that you wrote – practice speaking it clearly and with confidence!
3. [Optional] Practice a little bit more with making motions, and making points of Inquiry/Order, and how voting works.
IMPORTANT: Here are some handouts for the Courtroom Activity (Trial):
[Witness Statements (PDF)], [Guide: Prosecutors (PDF)], [Guide: Defense Attorneys (PDF)], [Guide: Judge/Jury (PDF)],
& [Common Objections (PDF)].

Homework Due on Week 4 (September 28, 2024): 
Please study the “slides” from Week 3… [Slideshow Week 3 (PDF)].
A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
 1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 3” (Do you have questions?).
 2. Watch the video(s) and read the articles about Roberts Rules of Order [Research Page].
B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
 1. Fill out the following handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-03 (PDF)]. 
 2. We must prepare for the in-class emergency situation by writing a speech that calls for action!
 Note: The speech can be written in any organized manner and must be at least 1 min long (no more than 2 min total).
 3. Write a more complete answer to Quiz-02, Question 13, which asked why it is important to learn these things for Model Congress.
C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
 1. Practice speaking about the possible solutions to the water contamination crisis that were discussed during class.
 2. Practice speaking the “Preamble” to the US Constitution (the song might help!).
 3. Practice speaking and listing the “Five Freedoms” contained within the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
[Optional/Extra] Practice a little bit more with making motions, and making points of Inquiry/Order, and how voting works.

Homework Due on Week 3 (September 21, 2024): 
Please study the “slides” from Week 2… [Slideshow Week 2 (PDF)].
A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
 1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 2” (Do you have questions?).
 2. Watch the video(s) and read the articles about the US Government and Roberts Rules of Order [Research Page].
B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
 1. [Government] Fill out the handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-02 (PDF)]. 
Note: We don’t turn in the handout, just bring it to class and use it as part of our discussion, okay?
 2. [Make-up Speeches] If you would like to give a speech or if you did not already speak – prepare by writing a speech.
C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
 1. Practice speaking about your pros and cons of “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” [We will do some “Crossfires”].
 2. Practice a little bit in preparation the simulation of the city council meeting about “Allowing Pets in Restaurants”.
IMPORTANT: Breaking news… something important has happened in your community and it needs to be discussed!!!

Homework Due on Week 2 (September 14, 2024): 
Please study the “slides” from Week 1… [Slideshow Week 1 (PDF)].
A. Research: Please do the following research/reading assignments… 
 1. Read the Slideshow listed above from “Week 1” (Do you have questions?).
 2. Learn about the following “Allowing Pets in Restaurants” [Research Page], [Pros & Cons].
B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
 1. [Government] Fill out the handout and be prepared to discuss it in class. [Quiz-01 (PDF)].
 2. [City Council] Fill out the handout for the “City Council” simulation. [Activity].
 3. [Optional] Will you run for elected office? Would you like to be the mayor? [See ‘Activity’ Above!].
C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments… 
 1. Practice speaking about your pros and cons of “Allowing Pets in Restaurants”.
 2. Practice making a speech about your roleplay position on the issue of “Allowing Pets in Restaurants”.

Homework Due on Week 1 (September 7, 2024): Nothing is due on “Day 1”
A. Research: Please do the following research assignments… 
B. Writing: Please do the following writing assignments… 
C. Speaking: Please do the following speaking assignments…