Questions for Discussing Civic Participation in Your Classroom

Exploration of activism concepts

• What is motivating young people to speak out about gun violence?
• What are young people asking for?
• What strategies are young people using to press for change?
• What impact are young people having now?
• What else do you think it will take to create lasting change and make schools safer from gun violence?

Understanding the why and how of civic action

• Why does a civic action matter to me?
• Where do we start?
• How can we make civic action easy and engaging?
• How do we get from voice to change?
• How can we find allies?

Introduction to levels of power

• Who can support us?
• Who can help our voices be heard?
• Invite them contact:
  • Government (National, State, Local)
  • Nonprofit Organizations/Charities
  • Industry/Commercial Organizations
  • Professional Media
  • Influential individuals (authors, lecturers, etc.)

Provide real life examples

Lesson plans for civic participation:

• Generation Citizen’s Action Civics Curriculum
• Facing History and Ourselves’ Eyes on the Prize Curriculum
• Danielle Allen’s Youth Participatory Politics Framework

**For an example lesson, visit this Facing History resource: After Parklands: Students Choosing to Participate