GenerationNation provides K-12 resources and hands-on activities to educate students about civics and build civic literacy. They offer classroom resources aligned to educational standards, as well as opportunities for hands-on learning like a mock election where students vote. Their goal is to engage students in government and community issues to develop leadership skills from an early age.

1. K‐12 Resources and Hands‐on Activities
For more information visit www.GenerationNation.org
Give your students an advantage through GenerationNation
When students learn and understand how their governments and communities work, and the ways citizens and leaders collaborate to solve problems at the local, state and national levels, they build essential knowledge and skills necessary for success at school, career, and civic life.
Civics in Action: Programs and Resources
Smart, fun, engaging educational programs tied to Common Core and Essential Standards connect classroom activities with hands‐on experiences to maximize student comprehension, interest and impact. GenerationNation is the champion for K‐12 civic education and youth civic leadership!
Classroom Resources
ƒ Aligned to Common Core and NC Essential Standards in Social Studies
ƒ Civic Education partners include
o GenerationNation
o National Action Civics Collaborative
o Civic Education Consortium
o iCivics
o Newspapers in Education
o C‐SPAN
o Many others
ƒ Themes center on government, citizenship, leadership, and include: civic literacy and skills, democracy, elections and voting, civic engagement, history, law, media literacy, leadership, government (local, state and federal), events/holidays, Charlotte‐Mecklenburg, and more!
Hands‐on Learning Opportunities
ƒ Learning Center – resources for civic literacy through the year
ƒ High school programs YouthCLT (Local Government) and Youth Leadership Alliance/Youth Voice Press Corps (Civic Leadership, Government and Journalism)
ƒ Kids Voting Election – mock vote for K‐12 students
ƒ Ways to connect to government, leaders, citizen journalism, and opportunities for civic participation
ƒ Special events: Constitution Day, Election Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, State of the Union, Black History Month, local government budgeting, elections and voting, debates and more
Learn more
On the web www.GenerationNation.org
www.GenerationNation.org/learn
Connect Sign up for email updates and access GenNation blog/social media
www.generationnation.org/index.php/contact
Contact Amy Farrell, Executive Director
amy@GenerationNation.org, 704‐343‐6999 www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation

2. Classroom Resources Overview
For more information and to join the email list visit www.GenerationNation.org/learn
GenerationNation educates and engages K‐12 students to lead in their schools, communities and nation. Smart, fun, engaging programs tied to Common Core and other educational goals connect classroom activities with hands‐on experiences to build civic literacy and leadership from an early age.
Classroom resources
ƒ Tied to Common Core and NC Essential Standards for Social Studies
ƒ Interdisciplinary, integrating the study of government, citizenship and leadership into different contexts
ƒ Useful tools that connect real‐life experiences and current events with the classroom education to increase student interest and comprehension
ƒ Easy to use, flexible and adaptable, plug into existing lesson plans, fit time requirements and curriculum goals
ƒ Organized in one place – you don’t have to search the web for content
ƒ Relevant, usable and regularly updated throughout the year
ƒ Non‐partisan, and non‐political
Includes
ƒ Resources and tools at www.GenerationNation.org: Learning Center/Classroom Resource Library, civic education resource links, government info, videos, games, etc.
ƒ Curriculum from civic education partners: GenerationNation, Kids Voting USA, Civic Education Consortium, CSPAN, iCivics, Newspaper in Education, National Action Civics Collaborative, and others.
ƒ Local and state government resources, editable presentations, easy‐to‐understand information and hands‐on learning opportunities connecting students with government, leaders, policies, elections, issues and decisions
ƒ Educational guides for civic learning experiences including Constitution Day, Election Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, State of the Union, Black History Month, local government issues, Elections and Voting, Debates, civic leadership and more. www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation
ƒ Digital content, current events and learning opportunities to help your students to connect local, state, national and global issues, personal experiences and historical events, explore student voice, and build knowledge and skills.

3. Civics in Action: Learning Opportunities
For more information visit www.GenerationNation.org
Impact
ƒ Combines classroom learning with real content and/or experiences
ƒ The best way to build interest, knowledge, skill and comprehension
ƒ Learning opportunities narrow gaps among at‐risk students
Elections and Voting: Kids Voting Election October and November
ƒ Student mock election on local, state and national races; service‐learning in polls
ƒ Candidate debate watch, curriculum and activities
ƒ Voting available online, in polling places and at school
ƒ Additional opportunities for student council elections (remainder of year)
Government, Citizenship, Leadership: Civic Learning Opportunities
All year
ƒ Discussion questions, resources and education guides for current and special events
ƒ Constitution Day, Election Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, State of the Union, Black History Month, local government budgeting, Elections and Voting, Conventions, Debates, more
ƒ Opportunities to visit, learn about and interact with government and leaders, and report on civic issues
Local Government and Law: Youth Civics All year
ƒ Students learn about local government and visit government meetings, courts, media
ƒ Different opportunities
o Instruction for students visiting government meetings
o Government presentations, curriculum and resources for the classroom or home study (all grades)
o Being developed: videos and other online resources; students watch meetings on TV or online, participate in polls, text response and other ways to engage
High School –Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Youth Council, Youth Leadership Charlotte‐Mecklenburg, Youth Voice/Press Corps (Civic Leadership, Government, Media) All year
ƒ Students identify, report on and address school/community issues and advise local government leaders. Official youth council for community ‐ partnership with City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and CMS. www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation
ƒ Civic leadership mentoring

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Civic Learning Opportunity: Election 2014
For more information visit www.generationnation.org
This learning opportunity educates students about democracy, reading and analyzing information, the election process, making decisions, different levels of government, ways that citizens participate in political life, and more. (Over 35,000 Charlotte‐ Mecklenburg students participated in 2013 local elections, and over 100,000 in 2012 presidential elections.)
What is the mock election program?
K‐12 students experience elections through hands‐on activities. They learn about and vote on real candidates and issues and take part in community service‐learning to compliment classroom learning about civics and democracy in the classroom.
Kids Voting is a program of GenerationNation. Educational resources are available to help students to learn about government, the candidates, the election process, and student voice on community policies and decisions impacting K‐12 students.
K‐12 students have different ways to participate
ƒ Vote at school (October 21 – November 4, as determined by School Representative)
ƒ Vote in designated polling places (October 25, October 31, November 1, and November 4)
ƒ Community service‐learning (October 25, October 31, November 1, and November 4)
ƒ GenerationNation can also assist your school with other elections through the year
Student Ballot Questions – Election 2014
Grades K‐12 – US Senate
Grades 3‐12 – above, plus County Commission, city bond, and county sales tax referendum
Grades 6‐12 – above, plus US House, Sheriff, NC General Assembly
When are results announced?
ƒ Students’ votes are counted and reported to the community, announced through the media and posted on www.generationnation.org
ƒ School‐level results are available for schools using the online ballot
www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation GenNation

5. Join the Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Youth Council. Care about community and school issues? Want to make your voice heard on important policies and decisions
impacting children and youth? Here's your chance!
Who? Open to all high school age youth – great for leaders/emerging leaders, journalists & all others interested in leadership, news, policy issues, and making a difference.
What? Teens work with and advise local officials and policymakers on issues and decisions impacting K‐12 students, learn about local government, network with students from across the community, build civic leadership, and use student voice to report on and highlight issues and government actions impacting youth.
When? Meets twice a month, usually (but not always) on Tuesday evenings at 6:00‐8:00PM
Where? Most meetings are at the Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Government Center in downtown Charlotte. When you sign up, you will receive regular meeting info, directions, etc. for each activity. Free CATS/LYNX passes available to assist students with transportation.
How do I sign up?
Learn more and sign up GenerationNation.org/youth
Questions? info@GenerationNation.org or 704‐343‐6999
The youth council is a program of GenerationNation, in partnership with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools.

6. GenerationNation
Educating and engaging K‐12 students to lead
Smart, fun activities connect the classroom with hands‐on experiences to build civic literacy and leadership from an early age.
Background
Launched in 1992, GenerationNation – until 2011, named Kids Voting Mecklenburg – was initially an annual event focused on Election Day. The 501c3 nonprofit organization created a new program model to more comprehensively educate and engage young citizens and leaders and address the needs of students, schools, and the community.
Why does GenerationNation matter?
Today's students will one day become the leaders of our schools, businesses, communities, and nation. What, and how, they learn now matters. Through GenerationNation, students prepare for college, career, and civic life. We all benefit when students:
ƒ Grow as confident citizens and leaders who can read and analyze information, communicate, think critically, collaborate, solve problems and make decisions.
ƒ Build civic literacy, understanding how their governments and communities work.
ƒ Gain essential knowledge for academic success including graduation requirements Civics & Economics and US History.
ƒ Develop lifelong civic leadership.
Program of work
GenerationNation partners with schools, youth programs, local governments, businesses, and other organizations to build civic literacy and leadership from an early age.
ƒ Youth Charlotte‐Mecklenburg ‐ Builds tomorrow’s civic leaders and the next workforce. Programs include Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Youth Council, Youth Leadership Charlotte‐Mecklenburg, and Youth Civics.
ƒ K‐12 Education – Helps teachers to easily and effectively integrate civic literacy into the classroom through lessons and activities tied to Common Core and NC standards to support achievement in reading, writing, and social studies.
ƒ Civics in Action ‐ Directly engages thousands of K‐12 students in hands‐on experiences including the Kids Voting mock election.
2013‐14 Impact
GenerationNation is Charlotte’s champion for K‐12 civic literacy & youth civic leadership.
Directly engaged students in hands‐on experiences to narrow learning opportunity gaps and build civic literacy and leadership knowledge, interests, and skills.
ƒ 35,000+ students engaged in learning opportunities including the youth council and mock election
ƒ 9,500+ contact hours
ƒ 100% of student participants learned about and engaged in local government and community issues
Helps K‐12 teachers to easily and effectively integrate civic literacy into the classroom to create a foundation for civic literacy and leadership.
ƒ 170+ public, charter, independent, and religious schools, including 94% of CMS schools
ƒ 100+ lessons and tools
ƒ Aligned to core subjects, Common Core, NC standards, and grade‐level
www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation

7. Program of work
GenerationNation educates and engages students to lead.
Smart, fun, innovative activities connect the classroom with hands‐on experiences to help K‐12 students to build civic literacy and leadership from an early age.
Today's students will one day become the leaders of our schools, businesses, communities and nation. What, and how, they learn now matters. Through GenerationNation, students prepare for college, career and civic life.
ƒ Grow as confident citizens and leaders who can read and analyze information, communicate, think critically, collaborate, solve problems and make decisions.
ƒ Build civic literacy, understanding how their governments and communities work.
ƒ Gain essential knowledge for academic success including graduation requirements Civics & Economics and US History.
ƒ Develop lifelong civic leadership.
GenerationNation reaches thousands of local K‐12 students and classrooms annually. Programs include:
Youth Charlotte‐Mecklenburg
Builds informed, effective, and engaged civic leaders. High school programs include Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Youth Council, the community’s official youth council connecting emerging leaders with community leaders to collaborate to solve community problems; Youth Leadership Charlotte‐Mecklenburg, where students explore community issues, leadership, and careers; Youth Civics, educating students about local government, and Youth Voice, engaging student voices on civic issues.
K‐12 Civic Literacy
Helps K‐12 teachers to easily and effectively integrate civic literacy into the classroom through standards‐ based lessons, tools and activities (Common Core and NC Essential Standards) to support achievement in reading, writing, and social studies ‐ including graduation requirements Civics & Economics and US History.
Civics in Action
Real‐life experiences engage K‐12 students in hands‐on activities, field trips, and annual events Candidate Forum for Youth, where students question and analyze candidates for office; Youth Leadership Summit, bringing together diverse student leaders for civic collaboration and problem‐solving; and the Kids Voting mock election, where students learn about democracy and government while casting their own votes and participating in service‐learning.
www.GenerationNation.org GenerationNation @GenNation