Leveling Public Policy

Lesson Plan

Why does it take so long for a public policy to be enacted? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into the six steps involved in creating public policy and the obstacles legislators may face when trying to get it passed. Students review a case study and policy-making scenarios to learn about stakeholders and practice viewing issues and their solutions from multiple viewpoints.

Teacher Resources

Get access to lesson plans, teacher guides, student handouts, and other teaching materials.

I find the materials so engaging, relevant, and easy to understand – I now use iCivics as a central resource, and use the textbook as a supplemental tool. The games are invaluable for applying the concepts we learn in class. My seniors LOVE iCivics.

Lynna Landry , AP US History & Government / Economics Teacher and Department Chair, California

Related Resources

Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.
View
Lesson Plan

Counties Work Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Counties Work. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! Extension Packs are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
View
Game

LawCraft

Jump into the law making process of Congress.
View
Lesson Plan

LawCraft Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for LawCraft. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! This Extension Pack uses a Google Slides deck and is designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
View
Lesson Plan

Managing the Media

How much influence does the media have on the public’s perception of current issues? In this mini-lesson, students explore where news and information come from and how the media can shape people’s public policy views. Students also compare news coverage among conservative, liberal, and neutral media outlets.
View
Lesson Plan

Policy Promotion: Politicians and the Media

Politicians are everywhere—talk shows, radio, news reports, and social media. But why are they there? In this mini-lesson, students explore how elected officials use the mass media to promote their ideas about public policy and generate the public’s support for it.
View
Lesson Plan

Public Policy 101

This country’s got problems! And that’s why the government creates public policy to try and resolve them. What is public policy? In this lesson, students explore various types of public policy, including social and economic regulations, the provision of public services, and funding for government programs. Students also discover how public policy affects their everyday lives.
View
Lesson Plan

Public Policy Research Guide

Are your students researching a public policy? Help them through the process with this graphic organizer. It guides students through narrowing down a topic, answering questions through research, finding positive and negative views of the policy, and analyzing its effectiveness. The guide is designed to help students present what they’ve learned in a written paper, oral presentation, or class debate.
View
Lesson Plan

Putting Policy into Action

We know that the legislative branch makes policy and that the chief executive signs it into law. But what happens next? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into how public policy is enforced by exploring the role of government agencies, the powers they have, and why they are entrusted with enforcing policy.
View
Lesson Plan

The Public in Public Policy

Can a person really influence public policy? Yes, and in multiple ways. In this lesson, students discover who and how different groups influence public policy. With a case study that can be adapted to a role-play, students are guided to see how legislators must balance the competing needs of various groups and find a way to compromise to a solution.
View