Tools for teaching Michigan students about government and citizenship
In this vital election year, Bridge Magazine is working to provide fun, interactive citizenship opportunities for Michigan residents. That includes students!
As a part of our 2018 Truth Tour, we have created a host of interactive tools you can use to teach your students about government and citizenship:
1. You Be the Governor game
Available at MichiganGovernorGame.com, students can balance the state budget based on what they think the state’s policy priorities should be. This game is designed to give insight into the governor's role in state government and provide people the chance to try their hand at running Michigan! At the end, students can see how their choices compare to everyone else that has played it, giving them a glimpse into how others would run the state.
2. Classroom Screenings of Michigan Divided
A 48-minute documentary, Michigan Divided follows several Michigan residents across the state to examine our political divide. Are we really as fractured as we feel, or do we have common values that can be used to move into the midterm election more united?
There is no cost to screen the film, available at bit.ly/MichiganDividedScreening. The only requirement to show the film in your classroom is to to fill out a brief survey (bit.ly./MichiganDividedSurvey) so the nonprofit producer can report viewership numbers in their grant reporting.
3. The Creation of History
For the last four years, Michigan has worked to revise its social studies curriculum. The proposed standards included a variety of controversial standards, including removal of references to LGBTQ individuals and striking "democratic" from the phrase core democratic values. When Bridge Magazine reported on the proposal, public debate sprung up surrounding the curriculum and what version of history makes it into textbooks.
After reading the articles below, students can discuss how society creates meaning out of events and writes the story told about them. Additional topics can include the roll of the press in society and the power of societal narratives.
- bit.ly/MISocialStudiesStandards
- bit.ly/InaccurateReporting
- bit.ly/SenateSpeech1
- bit.ly/SenateSpeech2
- bit.ly/SocialStudiesProtests
Questions? Contact our Allie Schmidt, our Outreach Coordinator, at aschmidt@thecenterformichigan.net.
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