Lessons on Local Government

08/03/2026

Who needs government? Apparently, lots of folks do. Did you ever read Lord of the Flies? It seems to be happening in a small eastern Colorado town.

A tangled web of interpersonal feuds has left the town of Hartman with no clear path out of a situation that’s not covered by any state law.

11/02/2026

Special Districts are the best kept secret of local government. So, many people think they don't know what they are, but they do. For example, RTD is a special district, so is Mr. View Fire Protection, and South Suburban Recreation. This contest can help your student learn about Special Districts and win some $. Teacher actually can win some cash too! https://www.districtsmakethedifference.org/video-contest Contact us if you want some help and/or check out the very cool lessons at https://www.lessonsonlocalgovernment.org/high-school

High school and college students are invited to create a fun and informative video highlighting the ways special districts ‘Make the Difference’ in California. Winners receive scholarship money and serious street cred.

20/01/2026

How does your community seek public input?

20/01/2026

Special Districts provide essential services. But have funding issues.

As equipment costs rise and state and federal funding dries up, more Boulder County fire districts are applying for funding. Sunshine Fire Protection District will use their money to replacing two …

17/12/2025

We look forward to seeing you at the best conference going.

Registration is open for CCSS' 38th Conference - Make sure to register now for early bird prices before they increase after the new year!

Click here to Register: https://www.coloradocouncilforthesocialstudies.org/event-details-registration/38th-annual-ccss-conference

And learn more about our Keynote Speaker, Tara Roberts: https://www.coloradocouncilforthesocialstudies.org/events-1

20/11/2025

Art is a great way to engage all students in learning. Local govenments across Colorado have all kinds of art in public places programs. Students can learn about their communities and perhaps even contribute to an art project like this one. Check out your local government's web page to learn more. This lesson provides one way to do it. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AFonEeZngS1SevIHCTN5cOF6GRUVbTSaUUMEqizZ_Vc/edit

19/11/2025

The totally cool Library of Congress has all kinds of way cool maps. This Teacher's Post lesson and materials has plenty of great ideas. https://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2025/11/teaching-about-community-and-place-with-library-of-congress-maps/?loclr=eatlcb

I found Sanborn maps of Longmont. https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection.

A search of all LOC materials turned up all kind of other images https://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=longmont&new=true&st=

08/11/2025

Now that election season is over, local government can get to work. Invite new leaders into your classroom and ask them to share what they hope to accomplish. Our local leaders in the classroom kit can make the visit a success. Find it here:

Here you'll find numerous local government lesson plans to use in your classroom. Feel free to use them as they are or customize them to make them resonate better with your students. Lessons on Local Government is a supplementary resource intended to help save you time searching for and planning les...

25/10/2025

Don’t forget school board elections. A great place to engage students.

Is your ballot sitting on your kitchen counter (like mine is)? Are you looking for information on this year’s school board candidates?

25/10/2025

Your students can lower their own personal “hoof prints” and perhaps get their community to lower its

Meat products represent a large share of the carbon footprints of cities, which are dependent on the characteristics of supply regions. With spatially explicit data, researchers show how the so-called carbon hoofprint varies between cities due to the different carbon intensities of producing regions...

18/10/2025

Taxes- who needs them?! Apparently, we do. We often approve TABOR requests. Want your students to learn more about taxes. This brand new lesson: Paying for People, Parks, Pipes, and Pavement can help. it is not avalaiilable on the website, so get it here check it out and let us know what you think.

Taxes Fees and Me Paying for People, Parks, Pipes, and Pavement https://bit.ly/LOLGTaxes www.lessonsonlocalgovernment.org https://bit.ly/LOLGTaxes

18/10/2025

Local elections are heating up. This presents us with terrific teaching opportunities. Collect mailers and door hangers and yard signs and social media posts and use those to examine leadership qualities or local issues and/or advertising/propaganda techniques. This lesson can help.

Learning with Local Election Ads Leadership Characteristics Local Issues Advertising Techniques