Empowering & Engaging ALL students through Simulated Congressional Hearings

Empowering & Engaging ALL Empowering & Engaging ALL students through Simulated students through Simulated

Congressional HearingsCongressional Hearings

Center for Civic Educationhttp://new.civiced.org/programs/wtp

Howard County’s SCH Websitehttp://sch.hcpss.org

Common Core

Howard County Simulated Simulated

Congressional Congressional Hearing (SCH)Hearing (SCH)

Judge Training

Constitutional Experts

Constitutional Experts

Constitutional Committee

(judges)

Constitutional Committee

(judges)

5 Units of Study5 Units of Study1. What basic ideas about government did

the founders have? 2. How did the framers write our

constitution?3. How does the constitution organize our

government?4. How does the constitution protect our

basic rights?5. What are the responsibilities of citizens?

Why Conduct a SCH?Why Conduct a SCH? Performance Based Assessment Engages and Motivates Rigorous and Challenging Builds Disciplinary Literacy Encourages Community Involvement Authentic Examples Positive Experience/Memory

Who Participates?Who Participates? ALL 5th Graders Various other grades throughout the

school Perform in opening/closing ceremonies Make flags Make decorations Serve as guides

What is the Schedule for the Day What is the Schedule for the Day of the SCH?of the SCH?

Judges Training Opening Ceremony Hearings in Classrooms

4 minute prepared speech 6 minute follow-up

questions

Lunch Roundtable Discussions

Between Judges & Students

Closing Ceremony

10:00-10:45 Opening Ceremony [Cafeteria]

11:00-11:20 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5

11:25-11:45 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 1

11:50-12:10 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 1 Unit 2

12:15-12:35 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3

12:40-1:00 Unit 5 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4

1:00-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:00Roundtable Discussion between Judges &

Students

2:05-2:50Closing Ceremony/ Celebration

[Cafeteria]

When Does This Occur?When Does This Occur? Content is taught throughout school

year- (direct correlation to our curriculum)

Preparations for hearing- approx. 10 days before the SCH Day

SCH Day is in late May or June

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

SCH Coaches Parents & Family Members Community Members Older Students

Guest Speakers Judges Volunteer Committees Observers and Cheerleaders

Acknowledge Student Acknowledge Student AchievementAchievement

Gold, silver, bronze medals

Gold, silver, bronze medals

Positive judge comments

Certificates of Achievement

We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution textbooks

Exemplar Lessons Professional Development

Pedagogy Content Assistance Planning- timelines & resources

ImplementationImplementation

Communication Staff and Community Websites: County; Wiki

Recruiting Judges Cadre of Mentors Financial Support

ImplementationImplementation

Questions?Questions?Feel free to contact us:Feel free to contact us:

Kimberly LoiselKimberly Loisel(410) 313-5678(410) 313-5678

Kimberly_Loisel@hcpss.orgKimberly_Loisel@hcpss.org

Coordinator, Elementary Social StudiesCoordinator, Elementary Social Studies

Howard County Public School SystemHoward County Public School System

Michelle RankerMichelle Ranker(410) 313-6642(410) 313-6642

Michelle_Ranker@hcpss.orgMichelle_Ranker@hcpss.org

Resource Teacher, Elementary Social StudiesResource Teacher, Elementary Social Studies

Howard County Public School SystemHoward County Public School System