The Capitol Forum Curriculum

The Capitol Forum program involves students both within their social studies classroom and beyond the classroom in authentic public venues. Statewide Capitol Forum programs involve students from schools across the state. After preparation in the classroom, students gather at their state capitol for a day of workshops and discussions that culminate in a forum with elected officials and policy makers. There are an increasing number of adaptations to the statewide model including

The central question of the Capitol Forum is "What role should the United States play in the changing international environment of the 21st century?" The forum at state capitols in the spring is structured around a framework of four divergent perspectives—Futures—each describing a different role for the United States in the world today.

Resources

  • The U.S. Role in a Changing World is a one-week unit that includes the Futures that provide the focus of the forum at the state capitol.
  • Curriculum Units on Current Issues: In order to bring content to this central question, students consider a variety of current policy issues. Topics can be selected from the range of current issues addressed by the Choices Program. Current topics include immigration, environmental policy, genocide, terrorism, the Iraq war, trade, nuclear weapons, UN reform, and relations with countries and regions such as China, Russia, Mexico, or the Middle East.
  • A Curriculum Resource Book is available from the Choices Program for a small charge. Contact the Choices Program for details. This resource is designed for use by teachers participating in statewide Capitol Forum programs. However, it is also useful for those who are designing their own adaptations of the Capitol Forum for their classroom, district, or ther network of classrooms. This resource provides an overview of the program and a collection of resources that could be adapted for use in alternative formats. These include a pre-forum lesson, guides used by leaders at statewide forums, and a post-forum lesson. that involves student representatives as classroom leaders guiding their peers in a continuing deliberative process.
  • Student Views: The post-forum lesson includes a Student Ballot which is submitted online. After students have completed the ballot, they are asked to develop their own "Future Five" reflecting their own considered judgment on the question of our nation's role in the world.
  • Ballot Results: See the results of statewide Capitol Forum programs. Also available is a snapshot of ballot results for The U.S. Role in a Changing World. More complete ballot reports are developed periodically.