Practicing Politics

The upcoming elections and the resulting political activities are much in the news, so it’s a good time to get students thinking and talking about their own civic responsibilities and opportunities. One way to get a conversation started might be to share my verse novel Little Dog, Lost. In the book, the kids of the town want a dog park, so they organize a rally in support. Talking with students about this kind of citizen action—that’s on a scale that’s accessible to kids—shows them how they can think about making a difference in their own communities. It’s also a great way to segue into a bigger discussion about the political process and what it means to be a citizen.