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The effectiveness of classroom simulations depends on the students, their grade level and maturity, and their willingness to buy into the activity. It also requires extensive preparation and a willingness to somewhat loosen control of the class.

One popular activity is a Mock Congress or State Legislature, both of which allow students to debate issues, but within the manner and rules of the legislative body. These rules are made to foster a more respectful interaction and prevent direct personal attacks. It’s been useful to have students follow the rules of the House of Representatives, complete with asking party leaders for time and being stopped when time has expired, and then use Senate rules, which allow more free-flowing debate. In real life, speeches are pre-written, but this can stifle open thought and interaction. We’re fortunate in Virginia in that both the House of Delegates and the State Senate allow classes to come to the chamber and do these mock activities there. The change of location and, yes, more professional attire, also raise the maturity of the students.

The Articles of Confederation can also be used to offer students another a chance to think outside the box. Here, students represent the 13 original states and must follow the rules of the Articles to address issues confronting the nation, such as land claims, trade, and foreign policy. In larger classes there can be two groups of states or students can represent foreign governments. This exercise helps young people understand why there was a drive for a new form of government, the basic conflicts of large vs. small states, and if power should reside at the federal or state level. These issues run throughout our history and are the basis of many confrontations today. The process then was difficult and frustrating, and students will see why the concepts of checks and balances and federalism are so fundamental to our government.

People loudly and frequently interrupting each other on the evening news shows are giving many of our students an inaccurate idea of what a debate really is. Staging formalized debates can shift their perceptions.

There are several ways to do this. Mock trials, using either the U.S. Code or Hammurabi’s Law Code, are useful in exploring the legal system. Everyone participating learns the importance of rights and evidence. A simulation of the Congress of Vienna or the Peace Conference after World War I teaches how to state your positions and work jointly to achieve and maintain peace. The same can be done with the Cold War.

Putting your students in a different mindset and a structure forces them to engage in a more civil manner. So can bringing government to your classroom. In today’s world, many use social media to express their opinions and ignore ones they don’t agree with. At public meetings, there’s a tendency for people to speak at officials, not with them. A recent student had been attending school board meetings to express his views on transgender issues. Later, when a local candidate came to an after-school club, the student was confrontational and, well, rude. We discussed this the next day and he admitted that he had no experience in a setting where he listened directly to an official or candidate; public comment time at board meetings is one-way communication. He began to learn more about respectful, two-way communication and, while he didn’t change his strongly-held views, he did learn to listen. Fortunately, the candidate was respectful to him and saw the exchange as a learning experience for the student. As our classroom activities became more interactive, I saw this student practicing listening and compromising skills.

Simulations like these immerse students in government and can show them the importance of not only expressing their opinions, but also another key element of governance: representing voters. In a Mock Congress or Mock State Legislature, I prefer students to represent specific states or areas and to prepare by studying the businesses, demographics, voting patterns and nature of the people there. Often, students must wrestle with the very realistic and valuable moral dilemma of choosing their view or that of their voters.

Virginia has elections every year, so there are always opportunities for young people to get involved in actual campaigns and in government. Making contact information available for all candidates allows students to choose and demonstrates your fairness.

Another avenue available to students is a citizen’s advisory committee. Here in Stafford, the School Board has seven such committees, on topics such as special education, technology, diversity and capital improvements. At times, not enough adults have shown an interest in serving but students have, and in such numbers that the county created official student members. Students now have a say in policy and the future of the schools.

Stafford also has the YES (Youth Engages in Stafford) Program, which permits one student to serve on each county board and commission, from Agriculture to Utilities. While they’re not voting members, they do have input, get the information that the adult members get, and often raise issues or questions others have not. Students see how policy is made, how budgeting works, and how local government addresses citizens’ needs.

Of course, government discussion in the classroom can raise concerns. Educators must be careful not to advocate for one side of an issue. This is difficult; for some, just offering the other side’s view is painfully difficult. However, if you begin by explaining both sides and offering positive and negative examples of what both are doing, students will see you making a concerted effort to be balanced, as will parents and administrators. For example, when explaining how Executive Privilege has been abused, use examples of both a Democratic and a Republican president. As in so much of what we do, we must model behavior for students.

Today’s generation is becoming involved in a broad range of issues and causes. With our help, they can see and experience a positive way to engage in the challenges we face. Experiencing government shows students how to make things happen, and there are local opportunities to have a say. Many elections are won by a handful of votes—or, as we saw earlier this year, the toss of a coin. Teaching young people civic skills will have an impact on how they take part in our democracy. It’s a great job.

Coen, a member of the Stafford Education Association, teaches government at Colonial Forge High School and is also an adjunct professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University and Randolph-Macon College.

• Use headlines to make the founding documents come alive. How would James Madison, author of Federalist 10, feel about the federalism dilemmas posed by conflicting marijuana laws at the state and federal level? How would Madison’s arguments in Federalist 51 about the value of separation of powers apply to the conflicts between the branches today?
• Spark generational conversations by having students ask family members about their voting habits and motivations. Let students use ages instead of names for their interview subjects; this will encourage open and far-ranging discussions.
• Use social media to illustrate your curriculum. Challenge students to find references to all the presidential roles (Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, etc.) in the president’s Twitter feed. Use Factcheck.org or Politifact.com to fight back against fake news and instill good media habits.
• Make the most of campaign season by teaching kids to research platforms, compare campaign promises, and make informed choices. They can then create their own campaign ads based on actual candidates, pick the best ones, and forward them to the campaigns, asking them to pick a winner. That authentic audience will encourage kids to be both factual and creative.
• Apply critical thinking to current events. Have students research Cabinet members and create a Cabinet Report Card. What grade does the president deserve in subjects such as “Qualifications” or “Swampiness”? Encourage students to explore who’s winning the Battle of the Branches 2018, using specific formal and informal powers and today’s examples.
• Above all, prepare them to be informed voters! Constantly stress the importance of voting, and if you’re lucky enough to teach 12th-graders, help them register. If they have a driver’s license and bring their Social Security number, they can register online in class in less than 10 minutes. Brainstorm ways that those who aren’t citizens can make their voices heard.

The beauty of civics is that all students have reasons to be interested. Depending on their career path, they may not need the formulas, patterns, or vocabulary they’re learning down the hall, but everyone should be a participant in our democracy, and you can convince them of that with your passion for civics.

Serrao, a member of the Chesterfield Education Association, teaches government at Cosby High School. She was the 2015 winner of VEA’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.