Curriculum

The Capitol Forum program involves students both within their social studies classroom and beyond the classroom at their state capitol. 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.

In order to bring content to this central question, students in participating classrooms consider a wide range of current international issues within the context of the courses they are taking. In preparation for the forum at the state capitol, student representatives from each participating class are expected to develop "expertise" in one of five content areas - international security, environmental concerns, nuclear proliferation, global economics, and migration.

Curriculum Resources

  • The Futures: At the introductory workshop in the fall, all teachers receive The U.S. Role in a Changing World. This unit includes the Futures that provide the focus of the forum at the state capitol.
  • Two Additional Choices Units: At the introductory workshop in the fall, teachers also select two additional units that they believe will fit well into their courses. See the full list of Choices curriculum units.
  • Curriculum Resource Book: At the introductory workshop in the fall, teachers are also provided with a Curriculum Resource Book which provides an overview of the program and a collection of resources that are used during the program year. These include a pre-forum lesson and resources that provide focus for all students in participating classes, and a post-forum lesson that involves student representatives as classroom leaders guiding their peers in a continuing deliberative process.
  • Student Readings: At the pre-forum planning meeting that takes place six weeks prior to the spring forum, teachers are provided with student readings for each of the topics that will be addressed at the forum. Among the resources in this book are reproducible background readings on the content topics that will be discussed at the forum.
  • Web Posting of Student Views: As part of the pre-forum lesson, participating classes articulate a "Class Statement" reflecting their in-class discussions. Class statements are posted to the Capitol Forum web site for others to read. The post-forum lesson includes a "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 Report: Following the forum and in-class deliberation after the forum, teachers are provided with copies of the Capitol Forum Ballot Report.

All program materials are revised annually to reflect changes in international and domestic affairs and to address issues and perspectives emerging as international events unfold.

Organizing Resources: Organizing resources are available online as ready-to-use pdf files and as Word files that can be adapted by each participating state.

Meeting State Standards

The resources and pedagogical approach of the Capitol Forum fit in well with the need of classroom teachers to address state standards. Lesson plans emphasize higher order thinking skills, including the ability to understand multiple perspectives and competing interpretations; to differentiate among fact, opinion, and interpretation; to weigh the importance and reliability of evidence and explain its significance; to understand and use primary sources; and to formulate rational conclusions. See Alignment with National and State Standards for descriptions of how Capitol Forum and the Choices Program align with standards in individual states.