How the Sausage Gets Made: A Game about Lawmaking (Upper Elementary + Middle)

Pets From the Past: A History Class

How the Sausage Gets Made: A Game about Lawmaking (Upper Elementary + Middle)

Edmond David Hally, PhD

Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(315)

In this one-time course, students will play a game which demonstrates the lawmaking process in the US Congress.

Class Experience

Otto Von Bismark is widely attributed to have said the following, “If you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made.”  The idea is that lawmaking can be a messy (and sometimes disturbing) process.

In this lesson, students will first learn about the general lawmaking process in the US Congress.  

Before class, I will send students a role sheet, which will give details about a hypothetical member of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Students should...

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1) describe the general lawmaking process, 2) describe the different methods members of Congress use to get favorable legislation passed, 3) describe what makes some members of Congress more or less likely to win reelection.

I've taught Political Science at the college level full-time since 2005.  My specialty is American politics and I have frequently taught courses on Congress.

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered

A one-page handout will be provided to parents in advance of the lesson.  This will detail the student's role and goal.  It should be reviewed before class.

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

All content is appropriate for the target age group (9 - 13).

Meet the teacher

Edmond David Hally, PhD

Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(315)

Hello!  My name is Ed.  On Outschool, I hope to teach lessons focused on social studies, science, and literature.

After graduating college, I spent a year as a substitute teacher and then another year with my own 3rd and 4th grade classroom. ...