Elementary (K-5)Government Structure35-45 minutes
What Representatives Do
Essential Question
What is a representative's job?
Overview
Students learn about the responsibilities of federal representatives by exploring profiles on CIV.IQ.
C3 Standards Alignment
D2.Civ.1.K-2
Learning Objectives
- Describe at least 3 responsibilities of a federal representative(D2.Civ.1.3-5)
- Navigate to a representative's profile on CIV.IQ
- Identify the committees a representative serves on(D2.Civ.6.K-2)
- Explain why representatives work on different topics
Materials
- --Computer/tablet access
- --Projector
- --Worksheet E2: A Representative's Job
- --Chart paper for class list
Vocabulary
Procedure
1Introduction
8 minutes- Review: "Last time we found our representatives. Who remembers their names?"
- Ask: "What do you think they DO all day?"
- Record student guesses on chart paper
- Explain: "Let's use CIV.IQ to find out what they actually do"
2Exploration
15 minutes- Navigate to one of your representatives on CIV.IQ
- Explore the profile together:
- - About section: Where are they from? How long have they served?
- - Committees: "These are like special teams that focus on specific topics"
- - Read committee names aloud — ask students what they think each one does
- - Bills: "These are ideas for new laws they're working on"
- Click on one bill title — read the title together
- Discuss: "Why do you think your representative is working on THIS?"
Activities
Explore Representative Profile
exploration15 minutes
Navigate to your representative's profile on CIV.IQ. Find their committees, bills, and contact information.
Open on CIV.IQ: Representative Profile →Record Representative's Work
guided-practice10 minutes
As a class, identify one committee, one bill, and one way to contact them. Record on Worksheet E2.
Draw Your Representative at Work
project10 minutes
Students complete worksheet and draw what they imagine their representative doing.
Discussion Questions
What surprised you about what representatives do?
Why do representatives join committees?
Follow-up: How does this help them do their job better?
If you were a representative, what would you want to work on?
Assessment
Students can explain at least 2 things representatives do.
Extensions
- --Look at a different representative's committees
- --Compare: Do all representatives work on the same things?
Common Questions
- What surprised you about what representatives do?
- This discussion question is explored in the What Representatives Do lesson plan.
- Why do representatives join committees?
- How does this help them do their job better?
- If you were a representative, what would you want to work on?
- This discussion question is explored in the What Representatives Do lesson plan.