TEACHER MATERIALS
How should citizens utilize their state's legislative process to accomplish their goals?
“How is Nebraska’s state government structured?”
In this activity, the students will learn about the structure of their state government. You may want to use the provided slideshow to aid in your direct instruction.
Nebraska’s Legislative Process slideshow
“How does Nebraska’s legislative process work?”
In this activity, the students will learn about the steps that a bill must go through in order to be passed. They will play a learning game in which they have to put the steps in order; you may want to print the steps out rather than having them copy them down from the board. You may also want to use the provided slideshow to aid in your direct instruction.
Nebraska’s Legislative Process slideshow
“How can citizens participate in Nebraska’s legislative process?”
In this activity, the students will consider how they can participate in their state’s legislative process as average citizens. You may want to use the provided slideshow to aid in your direct instruction.
Nebraska’s Legislative Process slideshow
Final Reflection
In this activity, the students will reflect on why citizens should consider participating more actively in their state government. You may want to review the steps of the state legislative process by showing the students a video created by Coalition for a Strong Nebraska. Also, rather than providing the students with a list of bills for their quick write exercise, you may want them to find bills on their own, in which case you should direct them to the Nebraska Legislature’s website.
“Coalition for a Strong Nebraska | How a Bill Becomes a Law in NE”
“What Is a Committee Hearing?”
To discover what happens during public committee hearings, the students will watch excerpts from the hearing for LB773. These excerpts, along with accompanying instructions for the teacher, can be found in the document provided below. The students will also fill out a worksheet as they watch the excerpts.
“What Is a Committee Hearing?” activity instructions
“What Is a Committee Hearing?” student worksheet
“What Makes a Strong Testimony?”
In this activity, the students will analyze testimonies from the LB773 hearing and create a guide for making a strong testimony at a committee hearing. The students will be watching excerpts from the same video they watched in the previous activity. These excerpts, along with accompanying instructions for the teacher, can be found in the document provided below. The students will also fill out a worksheet as they watch the excerpts. Finally, you will find a document below that describes alternative versions of this activity.
“What Is a Committee Hearing?” activity instructions
“Who Should We Support?”
In this activity, the students will consider the possibility of having someone else testify on their behalf at a committee hearing. The students will take a survey about who would make a strong testifier at a committee hearing about water quality; you may also want the students to create a word cloud using a website like “Mentimeter.”