Lesson Plan - Could Their Bill Become a Law?
About the Article
Learning Objective
Students will analyze the lawmaking process through the experience of four teens who helped turn their idea for a bill into a state law.
Curriculum Connections
• U.S. Constitution
• Branches of government
• State government
• Congress
• Florida
• Civic engagement
Key Skills
Social Studies:
• Identify steps in the process of how a bill becomes a law
• Develop knowledge of key structures in government
• Examine civic ideals and practices
English Language Arts:
• Summarize information
• Make inferences from an informational text
• Learn and use domain-specific vocabulary
Key CCSS Standards
RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.3, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.5, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.2, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.9, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.3, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.5, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.2, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.9
1. Preparing to Read
Build Background Knowledge
Before reading the article, have students view the video “How a Bill Becomes a Law” at junior.scholastic.com and record three to five key steps in the process. Alternatively, invite students to take the Prereading Quiz to activate prior knowledge before reading. Then use the skill builder Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms.
2. Reading and Discussing
Read the Article
Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they are unsure of.
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• Explain the Smart Living Act in your own words. (Paraphrasing)
The Smart Living Act was a bill that proposed requiring Florida high schools to teach life skills, like filing taxes. The goal of the bill was to prepare high school students for tasks they’ll face as adults.
• What is one conclusion you can draw based on “Step 1: Drafting the Bill”? (Drawing Conclusions)
Sample response: I can conclude that a bill can go through many changes before it is submitted to the legislature. For example, the wording may need to be changed, or details may need to be added or removed.
• Identify one personality trait the teens showed during the lawmaking process. Use evidence from the article as support. (Making Inferences)
Sample response: The teens showed determination by not quitting when their bill did not have a Senate sponsor. The text states, “Not ready to give up, [Florida State Representative Susan] Valdés and the teens tried a different strategy...” (page 13).
3. Skill Building
Your Turn: Brainstorm a Bill
Direct students to the “Your Turn” prompt at the end of the article. Ask them to think of an issue or challenge facing their state and propose a law to address it. Students should name their bill and write a short essay explaining their idea. They can present their ideas and vote on the best bill.
Summarize Information
Have students complete the graphic organizer How a Bill Becomes a Law to summarize the steps in the legislative process described in the article.
Assess Comprehension
Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension.
Printable Lesson Plan
