Teachers

In Maryland, teachers play a crucial role in fostering civic engagement among young adults. This is important because promoting civic engagement can help students build skills of leadership and critical thinking. Youth engagement can even lead to increased academic performance and improved social-emotional well-being. When students are encouraged to participate in our democracy young, they can begin to form civic habits that last a lifetime. This is how you can help democracy prosper.

Young adults have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, and we understand that building the foundation of strong civic engagement starts in the classroom!

Listed below are ideas on how you can bring civic engagement into your classrooms. Feel free to use these ideas and incorporate them into your own curriculum.

Mock Elections

Mock elections are a great way to encourage civic engagement for any age range! Hosting a mock election can be as simple as utilizing a pen and paper, or partnering with your local board of elections to run a mock election!

Tip: Make your election feel real!

Use famous historical figures for candidates or have students fun for office
Host debates and press conferences leading up to election day
Have students design political posters and other media to promote the election
Decorate your classroom for the event

Other Classroom Activities

All Ages

Have students design a flyer that encourages others to get out and vote in the upcoming election.
Have students practice voting by implementing organic voting opportunities during the classroom daily activities. Students can vote on simple aspects such as what color white board marker the teacher will use that day in class.

Older Students

Have students write position papers pretending they are candidates running for office in the upcoming election. Their papers can focus on why students should vote for the candidate, issues they support, and a call to action.
Organize a mock press conference or debate. Have students research a famous historical figure and play the role. Or analyze a real press conference. What are the candidate's stances on current events?
Have students prepare a presentation on why voting is important.
Teach students the importance of "Fact Checking" sites online and offline. How do you know when something is a trusted source? What can you do to report dis/misinformation?
Host a voter registration drive with your local board of elections.
Participate in the annual High School Voter Registration Competition.

Is there something fun you do in your classrooms to encourage civic engagement? Let us know about it!

Important Note on Legal Requirements of Civic Engagement for Schools

State Standards are adopted by the State Board of Education in the Code of Maryland Regulations that define what students should know and be able to do in a core content area.

For all grades and disciplines, the social studies standards Standard 1.0 Civics states, students shall inquire about historical development of the fundamental concepts and processes of authority, power, and influence with particular emphasis on civic reasoning in order to become informed, responsible citizens, engage in the political process, and contribute to society.

For all grades and disciplines, the social studies standards Standard 6.0 Skills and Processes states, Students shall inquire about civics, geography, economics, history, and people and nations of the world using disciplinary literacy skills and processes to critically evaluate content through a variety of source materials across disciplines and use reading, writing, and other forms of communication to develop, defend, and critique arguments in order to take informed action.

In addition, Maryland Education Article §7-116 (b)(2) requires schools to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17 and help instill in students knowledge of the history, importance, and enduring meaning of the United States Constitution and of the Maryland Constitution on the citizens of the State." The article explicitly states that the Constitution Day program of education "may include special assemblies, discussions, presentations, and events commemorating the United States Constitution and the Maryland Constitution, the opportunity for eligible students to register to vote, and efforts to reinforce existing curricula.

Furthermore in July of 2022, House Bill 201 went into effect requiring each public official responsible for the use of a public high school to make space required to host a voter registration drive available to their local board of elections. Local boards must conduct a voter registration drive in each public high school at least once each school year.

Questions?

SBE Contact
Lexy Rhoden, Director of Communications
[email protected]