Youth Summit provides a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to question adult experts about timely issues through invigorating and interactive meetings, a setting reminiscent of a congressional hearing.

To participate, teachers are required to attend TWO workshops – both before and after the summit, plus the Summit itself. They receive curriculum materials ready for classroom use.  Teachers share lessons about the selected topic with their students, then some 150 students (selected from 1,200 classmates) representing 30 classes meet with numerous elected officials, civic leaders and other experts at Portland State University.

Click here for frequently asked questions about Youth Summit.
Click here to download Youth Summit lessons.

 

Youth Summit 2010

Two Races, Two Questions
Focus on the U.S. senate and Oregon gubernatorial races.  Two topics will be used as the lens through which to examine them: economy, and energy as it relates to the environment. Students will divide an economic pie and compare it to the candidates’ views on where dollars should go as well as examine the candidates’ positions on energy as it relates to the environment. The lessons will serve to provide a process or kind of template for examining other issues and candidates.

 

Youth Summit 2009

Democracy & What’s News: What’s a Citizen To Do?
Newsrooms, cybernews, journalism, citizen journalists.  Students explore the connections between democracy, the news, and the role of citizens.  Lessons range from the historical roots of free press to new social media.

Youth Summit 2009 was funded in part through a generous grant from the Multnomah Bar Foundation.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Youth Summit?
The Youth Summit is the culminating activity of a curriculum packed with lessons that directly relate to Oregon civics and other standards. Four to six weeks before the Summit, teachers participate in a professional development seminar where they receive a packet of detailed lesson plans ready for classroom use. In the weeks leading up to the Summit, teachers choose from among these lessons to explore the selected topic with students. Following an in-class simulated hearing, the teacher selects approximately 5 student-delegates to represent their classmates at the Summit. While at the Summit, scheduled for Election Day, Nov. 2, approximately 150 middle and high school students will engage in discussions with civic leaders, local experts and elected officials who are keenly interested in helping students gain the skills necessary to become informed, active citizens.

How will teachers be prepared for the Youth Summit?
CLP provides professional development before the Summit plus a packet of detailed lesson plans ready for classroom use. In early October, teachers come to their first workshop. It is approximately 3-hours in length and includes dinner. Its function is to explain how the Summit works, introduce the lessons, have a short presentation on the topic from a local expert, plus network. CLP remains in frequent contact with teachers after the workshop and leading up to the Summit – sharing ideas, providing feedback, answering questions, and so on – via email.

What is the format of Summit-day?
The day is divided into two parts: morning hearings and afternoon townhall meeting. In the hearings, students are divided into one of 10-15 different hearing rooms where they assume the roles of “congressional committee members.” Similar to a real hearing, they will take testimony from local experts, elected officials, and active citizens. In the afternoon, students meet together in a townhall-type forum where a student from each class makes a statement on behalf of his or her class to a panel of experts. The experts reflect and comment on the students’ findings. Importantly, each teacher is asked to hold their own pre-summit hearing in his or her classroom, inviting outside speakers so that all students are engaged.

Where will the Youth Summit take place?
The Summit takes place at Portland State University in downtown Portland. We chose this location because it is in close proximity to the greatest number of participating schools and a college campus is ideal because students get to see themselves in higher education.

How do I participate?
To participate, teachers are required to attend TWO workshops – both before and after the summit, plus the Summit itself. Teachers share lessons about the selected topic with their students, then accompany their students on Summit day. Registration materials will be emailed to teachers in early September.

Is there a cost to participate?
We know cost is an issue, so we are pleased to report that the Youth Summit is being provided free of charge. Classroom Law Project has many supporters in this program to whom we are grateful, especially the Oregon Education Association and our Founder’s Circle members. Participating teachers/schools are asked to provide transportation and substitute coverage.

What do teachers say about Youth Summit?

“Our In-Class Summit was remarkable. I presented the assignment as their final exam for the quarter. Each student had statements he or she WANTED to share with the panel. The panel took notes and addressed the students’ statements and concerns, and provided an opportunity for discussion. They also offered their own comments. At the end, the panel applauded the students’ presentations and participation.”

“The materials provided were excellent. We covered approximately 2 segments of most of the lessons, and some fully. I plan to use some of the material we did not cover in our new quarter. I will also share segments of the unit with my other social studies classes.”

“Youth Summit was an enriching educational experience for our students. It was both challenging and rewarding. As members of a panel who had the opportunity to listen to professionals in the media and to ask questions about freedom of the press, democracy, and a citizen’s role, the students rose to the occasion and surprised themselves. For me, it was inspiring to see their growth. It was also an excellent experience to work with students from a different part of the state and for both groups to share their opinions.”

Where can I see past Youth Summit lessons and topics?
For examples of what previous lesson plans look like, see samples from past years: http://www.classroomlaw.org/resources/mock-trials/#Summit.

  • 2009 – Democracy & What’s News: What’s a Citizen To Do?
  • 2008 – Selecting the Next President: What Questions Should We Ask?
  • 2007 – How does a “nation of immigrants” balance the benefits and the challenges of immigration in 2007?
  • 2006 – Ballot Initiatives: Too Much or Too Little Democracy?
  • 2005 – Selecting the Next U.S. Supreme Court Justice

What are Youth Summit’s Important Dates?

  • Oct TBD | First teacher professional development session
  • Nov 2 | Youth Summit
  • Nov TBD | Second teacher professional development session

What about additional professional development?
There are at least three more opportunities to continue teacher learning. First, following the Summit, teachers meet for a post-summit workshop to debrief. A great deal of learning takes place by conferring with colleagues about what worked and what did not. Plus CLP also learns how to make it better next time. This workshop, like the first one, is about three hours in length, is in the late-afternoon and evening, and includes dinner. Second, teachers are invited to attend the Statewide Civics Conference for teachers at the State Capitol December 3. This popular conference offers a variety of sessions covering content and strategies by both elected officials and master teachers. And third, teachers will be invited to attend a four-day institute next summer. The institute offers content and strategies for teaching about the Constitution.