As educators in Indiana, one of our critical responsibilities is to prepare students to be informed, engaged citizens. Indiana Code 20-30-5-4 provides a legal framework that ensures all public and nonpublic schools offer instruction on government, voting, and civic participation to students in grades 6 through 12, particularly in the crucial two weeks leading up to a general election. This statutory requirement emphasizes the importance of instilling a deep understanding of civic duties and the functioning of our democratic system in our students, laying the groundwork for their future as active participants in society.
Overview of Indiana Code 20-30-5-4
The Indiana Code 20-30-5-4 mandates specific educational activities within the two weeks preceding a general election. This applies to all students in grades 6 through 12, ensuring they receive five full recitation periods of class discussion covering the following topics:
- The System of Government: A comprehensive overview of how government operates in Indiana and the United States, including the roles of different branches and levels of government.
- Methods of Voting: Education on the various methods of voting, including traditional ballots, absentee voting, and electronic voting systems.
- Party Structures: An examination of the organization and functions of political parties, both at the state and national levels.
- Election Laws: A discussion of the legal frameworks that govern elections, such as voter registration requirements, campaign finance laws, and election day procedures.
- Citizen Participation: Emphasizing the responsibilities and importance of citizen involvement in government and elections, highlighting the impact of voting and civic engagement.
Moreover, the code specifies that a student cannot receive a high school diploma without completing a two-semester course in American history, ensuring that students not only understand contemporary civic duties but also have a solid grasp of the historical context that shapes our government and society.
Practical Ideas for Teaching Elections and Government
Given the statutory requirements, it’s essential to develop engaging, age-appropriate activities that make these topics accessible and interesting for students. Here are some practical ideas to help you plan your lessons:
1. Mock Elections: Experiencing Democracy Firsthand
- Objective: Help students understand the voting process and the importance of their vote.
- Activity: Organize a school-wide or classroom mock election where students vote on a pertinent issue, such as school policies or a fictional scenario that resonates with their interests. This can include creating voter registration cards, setting up polling stations, and using either paper ballots or digital platforms to mimic real voting procedures.
- Follow-Up Discussion: Post-election, lead a discussion on the process, including how votes were counted, what factors influenced voter turnout, and the significance of fair voting practices. Discuss the importance of participating in elections and how each vote contributes to the outcome.
- iCivics Mock Election Lesson Plan: This three-day lesson plan allows students to simulate the entire election process, from party formation to voting day. It’s designed to give students a hands-on experience with elections, including campaign strategy and voter behavior. You can access this resource for free on the iCivics website after creating an account(iCivics)
2. Debates on Election Issues: Understanding Diverse Perspectives
- Objective: Encourage critical thinking, research skills, and an understanding of party structures and policy differences.
- Activity: Organize debates on current local, state, or national election issues. Assign students to represent different political parties or perspectives, allowing them to research and present arguments based on the actual positions of these groups. Encourage students to explore and defend positions that might differ from their own personal views.
- Classroom Management: Provide clear guidelines for respectful debate, emphasizing the importance of listening to and considering opposing viewpoints. This can be an excellent opportunity to teach civil discourse and the complexities of political decision-making.
- Political Debate Guide by iCivics: This resource helps students analyze political debates, whether historical or contemporary, and compare different perspectives. It’s an excellent way to introduce students to the structure and purpose of political debates, helping them develop critical thinking skills while evaluating candidates and issues(iCivics)
3. Guest Speakers and Panels: Learning from Civic Leaders
- Objective: Offer students real-world insights into government operations and civic responsibilities.
- Activity: Invite local government officials, election workers, or community activists to speak to students. Consider organizing a panel discussion where these guests can answer student questions about the election process, government roles, and the importance of civic engagement. If in-person visits are not feasible, virtual meetings can be a valuable alternative.
- Preparation and Follow-Up: Encourage students to prepare questions in advance, ensuring that they think critically about the topics to be discussed. After the session, have students reflect on what they learned through essays, presentations, or group discussions, connecting the insights to broader civic concepts.
- While there isn’t a specific lesson plan directly involving guest speakers, you can use the frameworks from We Are Teachers’ article on election activities to create panels or Q&A sessions with local officials or activists. This can be paired with activities like mock elections or debates to give students real-world perspectives(We Are Teachers).
4. Interactive Simulations: Bringing Government Processes to Life
- Objective: Teach the inner workings of government and the legislative process through experiential learning.
- Activity: Use interactive simulations or role-playing games where students can engage in activities such as passing a bill through Congress or the state legislature. These simulations can help demystify the complexities of government processes and demonstrate how laws are made and implemented.
- Classroom Application: Integrate these simulations into broader lessons on how the branches of government interact and encourage students to consider the challenges and compromises involved in the legislative process. This activity can be particularly effective for illustrating the balance of power and the role of public input in shaping policy.
- Nearpod’s Election Process Lessons: Nearpod offers various interactive lessons that simulate the electoral process, including understanding the U.S. presidential election cycle, campaign finance, and the impact of voter turnout. These lessons are interactive and can be used to engage students deeply in understanding the complexities of elections(Nearpod Learning).
5. Analysis of Election Laws: Understanding Legal Frameworks
- Objective: Help students understand the role of law in maintaining the integrity of elections.
- Activity: Assign students to research and present on various election laws, such as those related to voter ID, campaign finance, or gerrymandering. Encourage students to explore how these laws impact voter participation and election outcomes.
- Critical Discussion: Facilitate a classroom discussion on the implications of these laws, considering questions such as, “How do these laws protect or hinder the democratic process?” and “What reforms, if any, might improve the election system?” This can also be an opportunity to discuss the balance between security and accessibility in voting laws.
- Washington State Civic Education Resources: This resource offers lesson plans that simulate the legislative process, including mock committee hearings and budget balancing exercises. These lessons allow students to role-play as legislators, helping them understand the intricacies of lawmaking and the importance of negotiation and compromise in government(Wa Legislature).
Guidelines for Sensitive Topics and Maintaining Neutrality
While the instruction mandated by IC 20-30-5-4 is crucial for developing informed citizens, it’s equally important to approach these topics with sensitivity and neutrality, especially given the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of students. Here are some guidelines to help navigate potential challenges:
1. Avoid Partisan Bias: Maintaining a Balanced Perspective
- Neutral Language: When discussing political parties, election issues, or government policies, use neutral language and avoid implying that one perspective is superior to another. The goal is to provide students with the tools to make informed decisions rather than swaying their opinions.
- Balanced Representation: Ensure that classroom discussions, materials, and guest speakers represent a range of political viewpoints. This helps students understand the diversity of thought in American politics and encourages critical thinking.
2. Handle Controversial Topics with Care: Ensuring a Safe Learning Environment
- Focus on Civic Principles: When controversial or polarizing topics arise, steer the conversation back to core civic principles such as the importance of voting, the role of government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Avoid diving into issues that may provoke strong emotional reactions or create divisions among students.
- Supportive Discussions: Create a classroom environment where students feel safe expressing their views while respecting the opinions of others. Establish ground rules for discussion that promote respect, active listening, and thoughtful debate.
3. Limit Discussion of Specific Ongoing Elections: Keeping the Focus on Education
- Educational Focus: While students may be interested in ongoing elections, it’s important to keep discussions focused on the general principles and processes of elections rather than specific campaigns or candidates. This prevents the classroom from becoming a venue for political campaigning and ensures that the education remains impartial and informative.
- Use Hypothetical Scenarios: If discussing election strategies or outcomes, consider using hypothetical scenarios or past elections as examples. This allows students to explore the concepts without the influence of current political tensions.
4. Cautiously Incorporate Social Media: Teaching Media Literacy
- Critical Analysis: While social media plays a significant role in modern elections, it is crucial to guide students in critically evaluating the information they encounter online. Incorporate lessons on media literacy, helping students identify credible sources, recognize bias, and understand the role of social media in shaping public opinion.
- Avoid Over-Reliance: Encourage students to use a variety of sources for their research, including primary sources, academic articles, and reputable news outlets, to provide a well-rounded understanding of election-related topics.
Avoidance
When teaching about government, elections, and civic responsibilities, it’s crucial to navigate sensitive topics carefully to ensure a respectful, neutral, and inclusive classroom environment. Here’s a list of things you should completely stay away from, along with the rationale for avoiding them:
1. Endorsing or Opposing Political Parties or Candidates
- As an educator, your role is to inform and educate, not to influence students’ political choices. Endorsing or opposing specific political parties or candidates can lead to accusations of bias and may alienate students or parents who hold different views. It is essential to maintain neutrality to foster a classroom environment where all students feel respected and encouraged to form their own opinions.
2. Discussing Ongoing or Upcoming Elections in a Partisan Manner
- Discussions about ongoing or upcoming elections can easily become contentious, especially if presented in a way that favors one candidate or party over another. To prevent the classroom from becoming a venue for political debate, focus on the mechanics of the election process and historical examples rather than current or upcoming elections. This approach helps students learn about the democratic process without feeling pressured by current political dynamics.
3. Using Social Media Content Without Critical Analysis
- Rationale: Social media is a major source of information for many students, but it is also rife with misinformation, bias, and sensationalism. Using social media content uncritically in the classroom can inadvertently spread false information or present a skewed perspective. Instead, teach students how to critically analyze social media sources and encourage them to cross-reference information with credible, fact-checked sources.
4. Engaging in Discussions on Highly Polarizing Social Issues
- Certain social issues, such as those related to race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation, can be deeply polarizing and may provoke strong emotional responses from students. While these topics are important, they should be addressed with extreme care and, if possible, in a separate context where the focus is on fostering understanding and respect for diverse perspectives. In the context of civics education, it’s often more appropriate to focus on the principles of government and the electoral process rather than delving into contentious social issues.
5. Assigning Content or Activities That Could Be Perceived as Indoctrination
- Educational content or activities that appear to promote a specific ideology or viewpoint can be seen as indoctrination, which can lead to distrust among students and parents. The goal of civics education is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to think critically about government and their role in society, not to instill a particular belief system. Avoid activities that could be interpreted as pushing a political, social, or ideological agenda.
6. Discussing Conspiracy Theories or Unverified Claims
- Conspiracy theories and unverified claims can undermine students’ trust in credible information and the democratic process. Discussing these topics in a classroom setting can give them undue legitimacy and confuse students about what constitutes reliable information. Instead, focus on teaching students how to evaluate sources, understand the importance of evidence-based reasoning, and recognize credible information.
7. Making Assumptions About Students’ Political Beliefs or Backgrounds
- Assuming that all students share the same political beliefs or background can alienate those who feel differently and create an unwelcoming classroom environment. It’s important to approach discussions with the understanding that students come from diverse backgrounds and may have different perspectives. Encourage open dialogue where all viewpoints are respected, and avoid making generalizations that might exclude or marginalize certain students.
Conclusion
Indiana Code 20-30-5-4 provides a valuable framework for teaching students about the intricacies of government, the importance of voting, and their roles as citizens in a democratic society. As educators, our challenge is to bring these topics to life in ways that engage, inform, and inspire our students. By using a variety of teaching strategies—such as mock elections, debates, guest speakers, and interactive simulations—we can create a dynamic learning environment that not only meets the requirements of the law but also prepares students to be thoughtful, active participants in our democracy.
At the same time, it’s crucial to approach these topics with care, maintaining neutrality, and fostering an inclusive classroom where all students feel respected and heard. By doing so, we can ensure that our students develop a deep understanding of their civic responsibilities and the knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of government and elections. In this way, we contribute to the ongoing health and vitality of our democratic institutions, one student at a time.
Available Resources
| Resource | Organization | Description | Grade Levels |
| Indiana Bar Foundation’s Civic Education Program | Indiana Bar Foundation | Provides resources and programs designed to improve civic education in Indiana, including the We the People program and mock trial competitions. | 6-8 |
| CitizIN | Indiana University Center on Representative Government | CitizIN uses Indiana primary sources to teach Indiana history and government. The free interactive is organized chronologically so it can also be used to supplement an American History course with Indiana examples. Each of the 6 units has 6 primary source analysis activities, a short content video, and a mini game. The final 2 units, “the Turbulent Post-War Years” and “Hoosiers in the 21st Century,” have a particular emphasis on citizen participation as students take on the role of a newspaper reporter and the manager of a small town. The City Manager simulation prompts students to create an annual budget and then to work through 12 months making decisions about how to deal with the regular expenses of a town and the unanticipated ones. The goal is to end the year without running a deficit. | 6-12 |
| Engaging Congress | Indiana University Center on Representative Government | Engaging Congress uses primary source-based inquiry activities, short content videos, and simulations to help students learn how representative government works. The seven units cover a wide variety of topics: federalism, separation of powers, voting, the executive branch, the judicial branch, the federal budget, and influencing the political process. The primary sources build skills reading charts, interpretating political cartoons, analyzing photographs, and reading historic documents. Similarly, simulations cover a variety of skills from constructing gerrymandered districts, to nominating a Supreme Court Justice, and advising the President on policy issues. | 6-12 |
| Action Citizen | Indiana University Center on Representative Government | Action Citizen uses the passage of major environmental legislation to showcase the role of citizens in a representative government. A historic look at the Endangered Species, Clean Water, Clean Air, and National Parks Acts highlights the role citizens such as John Muir and Rachel Carson played in the passage of these laws and the important role all citizens have in our system of government. The interactive’s simulation places the students in a small town facing environmental catastrophes such as air pollution, loss of habitat, and e-waste. Students must make choices about how to act to try and contain each problem. They must adequately address three problems before a fourth overwhelms their town. | 6-12 |
| Indiana Election Division Resources | Indiana Election Division | Provides official information on Indiana’s election laws, voter registration, and election results. Useful for understanding Indiana-specific election processes. | 9-12 |
| Indiana Historical Bureau Resources on Voting | Indiana Historical Bureau | Offers resources and historical context related to voting rights in Indiana, including information on significant figures and events in Indiana’s voting history. | 6-12 |
| Mock Election Lesson Plan by iCivics | iCivics Mock Election | A three-day lesson plan where students simulate an election, from forming political parties to holding a mock election, including campaign activities. | 6-12 |
| Political Debate Guide by iCivics | iCivics Debate Guide | A comprehensive guide for facilitating political debates in the classroom, focusing on evaluating candidates, comparing perspectives, and critical analysis. | 6-12 |
| Electoral Process Lessons by Nearpod | Nearpod Electoral Lessons | Interactive lessons covering the U.S. electoral process, campaign finance, and voting rights, using games and multimedia to engage students. | 6-12 |
| Election Activities by We Are Teachers | We Are Teachers Election Activities | A collection of activities that teach about the election process, including mock elections, debates, and voting rights projects, tailored for classrooms. | K-12 |
| Legislative Simulations by Washington State Civic Education | Washington State Civic Education | Simulates legislative processes such as committee hearings and budget balancing. Includes role-playing and debate activities to understand lawmaking. | 6-12 |
| Campaign Cash by iCivics | Campaign Cash Lesson | This lesson explores the intricacies of campaign finance, teaching students where campaign money comes from and how it is used in elections. | 6-12 |
| Cast Your Vote by iCivics | Cast Your Vote Game | An interactive game that allows students to simulate voting in an election, helping them understand the electoral process and the importance of voting. | 6-12 |
| Women’s Suffrage by iCivics | Women’s Suffrage Lesson | This lesson covers the women’s suffrage movement, focusing on the historical fight for voting rights and the strategies used to achieve them. | 6-12 |
| Felony Voting by iCivics | Felony Voting Lesson | A lesson that addresses the issue of felony voting, exploring the perspectives and debates surrounding voting rights for individuals with felony convictions. | 9-12 |
| Redistricting & Gerrymandering by Nearpod | Redistricting Lesson | This lesson delves into the concepts of redistricting and gerrymandering, explaining their impact on elections and political representation. | 6-12 |
| Congressional Elections by Crash Course | Congressional Elections Video | A video lesson from Crash Course that explains the significance of congressional elections and their role in shaping government. | 6-12 |
| Electoral Process Lesson by Nearpod | Electoral Process Lesson | A comprehensive lesson on the U.S. electoral process, covering primaries, national conventions, and candidate strategies over the course of a year. | 6-8 |
| Vote by Design by Nearpod | Vote by Design | An interactive, non-partisan learning experience designed to promote civic engagement among students, focusing on the qualities needed in leadership. | 9-12 |
| Political Parties by Nearpod | Political Parties Lesson | A short video lesson that introduces students to the concept of political parties, their origins, and the pros and cons of party systems. | 6-8 |
| Executive Session Role Play by Washington State | Executive Session Role Play | A role-playing activity where students simulate a legislative committee’s executive session, debating and voting on proposed bills. | 8-12 |
| Who Gets to Vote? by Washington State Civic Education | Who Gets to Vote? | An interactive game that helps students understand the historical expansion of voting rights in the United States. | 4-12 |
| Chutes & Lawmaking by Washington State Civic Education | Chutes & Lawmaking Game | A board game styled after Chutes and Ladders, where students navigate the legislative process to pass a bill. | 4-12 |
| Candidate Evaluation by iCivics | Candidate Evaluation Lesson | A lesson where students evaluate hypothetical candidates by applying criteria for selecting public officials, developing critical thinking skills. | 6-12 |
| Campaigning: It’s a Process by iCivics | Campaigning Lesson | This lesson breaks down the process of campaigning, helping students understand the steps candidates take before Election Day. | 6-12 |
| Civic Education Curriculum by C-SPAN | C-SPAN Classroom | A comprehensive set of resources including lesson plans, videos, and primary sources that cover a wide range of civics topics, including elections. | 6-12 |
| Electoral College Lesson by PBS LearningMedia | PBS Electoral College | A lesson plan that explores the Electoral College, its history, and its role in presidential elections. | 6-12 |
