CIVIC EDUCATION LINKS
The Center for Civic Education: We the People
The Center for Civic Education: We the People
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Law Focused Education, Inc and the State Bar of Texas Law Related Education Department, have been involved in the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program since 1987.
The primary goal of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students. The foundation of the We the People program is the classroom curriculum. It complements the regular school curriculum by providing upper elementary, middle, and high school students with an innovative course of instruction on the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States. The We the People textbooks are designed for a wide range of student abilities and may be used as a supplemental text or for a full semester of study. Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop intellectual and participatory skills while increasing students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy.
After studying the textbook, students take a multiple-choice test and prepare for the simulated congressional hearing. The simulated congressional hearing is a culminating activity for the We the People program. The entire class, working in cooperative teams, prepares and presents statements before a panel of community representatives who act as congressional committee members. Students then answer questions posed by the committee members. The format provides students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles while providing teachers with an excellent means of assessing performance.
Teachers at the high school level may conduct a noncompetitive hearing, but are encouraged to participate in the nationwide competitive program. High school competition begins at the congressional district level with teams from each school vying for the district championship.
This years Texas We the People Finals will take place in Austin, Texas on December 10, 2011. Funding for this year's competition is made possible by a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation.
For more information on the competition, please email your Congressional District Coordinator using the link listed below.
WTP TEKS Correlations for High School, click here!
WTP TEKS Correlations for Middle School, click here!
WTP TEKS Correlations for 5th Grade, click here!