Linking with Legislators

Linking with Legislators
Learning about and Participating
in State Government

To Participate: Contact Ms. Mary Ann Fix at mfix@madison.k12.wi.us

Product Description: Students will write a letter of recommendations to state legislators, in response to the legislators invitation to research current issues in the state legislature and to make recommendations about those issues. Linking with Legislators is a collaborative project that connects state legislators, students, and the local newspapers. It involves the use of telecommunications networks as a vehicle for giving students the opportunity to learn about state government and to participate in it. The letter of recommendations should contain accurate backround information and new perspectives about the issue. Each letter of recommendation should allow for an interactive component that permits other students or community members to voice their views about the issue and project the issue for the next 150 years.

Goals (what students will know and be able to do)

Understand background information about a specific issue being discussed in the State Legislature

Engage in the research process

State clearly an information question
Determine possible sources and locate relevant information
Gather, organize and interpret information from more than one source
Record sources of information

Know and use the Internet as a source of information and means of communication

Send and receive messages electronically
Use the Internet to locate curricular information

Create and analyze a survey related to the issue

Understand the basic forms of letter writing

Identify how to present a clear point of view

Create and publish a letter of recommendations about a current issue being discussed in the state legislator to the state legislator presenting the issue.

Include accurate backround information
Cite Sources
Use appropriate grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling
Elicit support or feedback on student writing from others
Incorporate Internet links relating to the story (if available)
Integrate an interactive component
Use a word processing program
Create and/or select and manipulate meaningful graphics
Know and use HTML to prepare docucment for the Web (optional)

Reflect on experiences in doing this project (what student has learned)

Resources to Support the Project

To View Student Work: Linking with Legislatores
To Participate: Contact Ms. Mary Ann Fix at mfix@madison.k12.wi.us
This project was originally developed by Barbara Spitz, MMSD Instructional Technologies, and piloted by Ms. Ann Walser, a Shorewood teacher in Madison Metropolitan School District. The project is modeled after Students Offering Solutions for Legislatures, a Pioneering Partners Award-winning innovation from St. Louis Park Schools in Minnesota. Ms. Walser teaches 4th grade, however the project was designed to be adapted to a variety of grade levels.

This site is maintained by Barbara Spitz, bspitz@madison.k12.wi.us and Chris Burch
Madison Metropolitan School District
Instructional Technologies: Coordinator, Joan Peebles
545 West Dayton Street
Madison, Wisconsin USA

Last updated 3/5/97

Linking with Legislators Learning about and Participatingin State Government

Linking with Legislators
Learning about and Participating
in State Government