TEACHER SET UP Research county issues that need a solution and would be of interest to kids. Select two issues for your class to choose from for their class project. Find one article explaining each issue and make copies for the class. 

DISTRIBUTE the reading and activity packet to each student and read the first half of page one as a class.

INTRODUCE the two community issues that you have selected for the class. Have the information for the bottom half of the reading page on the board for the students to fill in. Allow for quick brainstorm on the last question for each issue.

REVIEW the directions on the overhead or board, explaining the steps to be taken today, and preview that the class will be selecting their class issue today.

ASK students to complete the preview step for each of the two issues. Have students share with the class. (Take note of specific questions or knowledge areas that may come in handy later in the process.) 

DISTRIBUTE copies of the issue article and assign the students to read actively.

SHOW the Word Cloud Transparency example and description to the class.

ASK students to complete steps two through five on the activity page for the issue.

ALLOW students to cut out and add their four terms to the issue’s word cloud on the board.

REVIEW the students’ word cloud, connections, and ideas for the issue.

REVIEW both issues with the class one more time.

DISTRIBUTE ballots to each student and have them fill in the issues with the short description of the problem.

CLOSE by asking students check off one of the two issues to complete the ballot, collect.

PREPARE for the next step by counting the ballots and reading over the Step Two materials.