Millions of Americans and visitors
from around the world come to the Capitol every year. People of all ages
want to learn more about the history of the U.S. Congress and to see where
the world's oldest democracy conducts the "People's Business."
To meet the educational needs of young people who will soon be exercising
the responsibilities of citizenship, the Society has developed a young
person's guide to the Capitol with a generous grant from Verizon.
For more than
35 years the Society has conducted Capitol tours for its members and
supporters. Because children have distinct learning styles and ways
to process information, guides often are challenged to meet their needs.
The 24-page,
multifaceted guide provides a concise introduction to the history of
Washington, D.C., the Capitol and how the Founding Fathers structured
the Federal Government under the Constitution. Utilizing maps and simple
directions, youngsters are directed through the Capitol, and educational
activities are integrated into each area of the tour. The guide includes
art, architectural and history projects as well as a bibliography for
those wishing to learn more about the Capitol and Congress.
Children enjoy learning when educational programs are relevant, understandable,
interesting and challenging. The rationale of the guidebook will be
to provide elementary school students with a reference tool that they
can use on a self-guided Capitol tour. The program's educational goals
are to engage young people in an interdisciplinary study of art, architecture,
United States history and the Constitution.
A Young
Person's Guide to the United States Capitol costs $3.95 each and
is now available at our Gift Shop in the East Front of the U.S. Capitol,
and by calling us toll-free at 1-800-887-9318. Ask for special discounts
on bulk purchases. You can get a sense of the guide through the illustrations
below.
Please select double-page images below for a downloadable Adobe
Acrobat .PDF file ~
