Lesson Plan - Teacher's Outline

Welcome to the DC Voting Rights Lesson Plan, developed my DC Vote in collaboration with teachers, students and parents from DC. We have provided for you a menu of options-pick and choose what materials you wish to use in the classroom. Customize your own lesson plan to fit your students and meet your needs.

The Lesson Plan addresses many of the District of Columbia Public School standards for a DC History and Government course. Combining performance standards, essential skills, and technology integration, the Lesson Plan explores the issue of DC voting rights.

Part I: Warm Ups

A) Voting Simulation and Discussion

B) Pop Quiz / Learning Assessment and Discussion

Part II: Lesson Materials

A) Teacher Talking Points & Discussion Questions

B) Timelines
• Two Page Timeline
• One Page Timeline
• Half Page Timeline
  • "Visualizing History" Worksheet

C) DC Voting Rights Pop Quiz
• Blank Quiz
• Answer Key
• Discussion Questions

D) Current Events Articles
• "House GOP Proposes to Repeal DC Gun Bans" by Spencer S. Hsu, the Washington Post (09/14/2004)
  • Reading Comprehension Worksheet
• "The AIDS Epidemic in DC" by Jesse Greenspan, ABC News (04/17/2006)
  • Reading Comprehension Worksheet
• "One Kid, One Vote" by Charlotte Ickes, the Washington Post (08/07/2003)
  • Reading Comprehension Worksheet

E) Visual Aids
• "DC Democracy" by ragir - A 2-minute documentary accessible online through Current TV at http://current.tv/studio/media/1851731. The film examines the duality of Washington's federal and local communities and explains the enormous power Congress has over DC residents.
  • Worksheet
• "Un-Natural State" by Worthy Foes - An 8-minute documentary created for the International Documentary Challenge by local filmmakers Worthy Foes. The film won the award for "Best Editing" and debuted at a screening at the Amwerican Film Isnstitute in Silver, Spring, MD, on August 31, 2006. The film exposes the ironic "cage" District residents live in: America's capital where inhabitants are denied American democracy.
  • Worksheet
• Maps, Graphs & Charts Comparing the District of Columbia with the State of Wyoming
  • Worksheet

F) Suggested In-Class/Group Activities

Part III: Closing

A) Suggested Guidelines for Closing Discussion

B) Suggested Homework/Individual Assignments

We recommend you visit http://www.k12.dc.us/dcps/curriculum/content/scnd-stl.htm and click on the link for "DC Hist / Gov" listed under the Social Studies column for a complete copy of the DCPS DC History & Government Standards.

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