 America's Legislators Back to School Program Materials
The America's Legislators Back to School Program is an annual nation-wide event that "kicks off" the third week of September and runs through the school year. NCSL makes available, free of charge, the following publication and video resource materials for high school, middle/junior high school and elementary school students to be used by state legislators visiting classrooms in conjunction with the program. To request copies of the materials, please contact your state legislative coordinator. State legislative coordinators may obtain copies by contacting Karl Kurtz or Joyce Johnson at btsp@ncsl.org.
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Program Materials
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The America's Legislators Back to School program brochure provides an overview of the program and encourages state legislators to take part in the program to help bring civics to life for students by visiting classrooms. State legislative coordinators may obtain additional copies by contacting Joy Heiserman or Joyce Johnson at btsp@ncsl.org.
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Adult/High School |
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Your Ideas Count! Representative Democracy and You This booklet, geared for adults, challenges readers to think about how they feel about our system of government and how representative democracy relates to them. This booklet would be appropriate for seniors in high school.
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Your Ideas Count! inTime (new publication, August 2009) This special edition of inTime, published by TIME magazine for high school students, explores myths and realities about American democracy and challenges students to get involved. (© 2009, NCSL) Teacher's Guide
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Middle/High School |
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You Rule
This colorful booklet tells young people in middle and high school that citizens really do rule in our system of democracy; that students can have a voice and that government does impact our lives. (© 2008, NCSL)
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Elementary School |
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Your Ideas Count! TFK Extra! (Grades 2-3) This fun-filled supplement edition to TIME for Kids, published by TIME magazine for 2nd and 3rd graders, helps them understand some very basic ideas about our system of government.
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Your Ideas Count! TFK Extra! (Grades 4-6) This supplement to TIME for Kids, published by TIME magazine, tells 4th-6th graders about representative democracy, how laws affect their lives and shows them that legislators are real people.
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Legislators |
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Talking Points Card This easy-to-use, laminated, pocket-sized card for legislators provides messages and suggested classroom activities for all grade levels. All of the America's Legislators Back to School Program materials are listed on the card for easy reference. Additional information for legislators.
State legislative coordinators may obtain copies by contacting Karl Kurtz or Joyce Johnson at btsp@ncsl.org.
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Videos (DVD) |
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Middle School/ High School |
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You Rule Join four students, in this educational 18-minute video for middle and high school students, as they discover how, in American democracy, citizens really do rule and young people have a voice. (© 2008, NCSL)
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Elementary School |
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The Citizen (Grades 4-6) Join the Citizen in a journey to learn about our republic and the roles and responsibilities of citizens. (© 2012, NCSL)
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Materials No Longer Being Printed
Note: Materials are available on the Back to School Web site; however, some materials are no longer being printed and hard copies are limited. Contact btsp@ncsl.org for more information about materials.
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Middle/High School |
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Your Ideas Count! Questions and Answers about Representative Democracy This colorful booklet is geared toward middle school and younger high school students and explains that disagreement is a natural part of the legislative process, that debate, negotiation and compromise are necessary, and that students' chances of being heard are better when they join with a group of people who share their views. (Also available in Spanish) Your Ideas Count! Questions and Answers about Representative Democracy (Teacher's Guide)
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Your Ideas Count! Questions & Answers about Representative Democracy This 16-minute video, for middle and high school students, tells the story of five kids--Sean Duffy from MTV's Real World Boston and four of his friends--who visit the state capitol to find out what really happens when state lawmakers go into session and get down to business.
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For further information about the America's Legislators Back to School Program, please call (303) 364-7700, or send an email to btsp@ncsl.org.
Updated 2/6/2012
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