Target Age Group: 3rd-6th grade students

Project Duration: 1-2 days

Objectives: Teach children how to identify and contact their Representative and how to address a letter or an email message to their Representative.

Materials: Computer with internet access, letter paper or email access




Procedures

1) Identify Your Representative
Students will need to know their state and ZIP code to correctly identify their Representative. Once this information is gathered, visit the Write Your Representative feature on the House website and follow the instructions on the page. When the form is submitted, the students' Representative and Congressional district will be identified.

2) Determine Method of Contact

a) Email: The Write Your Representative service allows students to send an email to their Representative. Simply complete the form that follows the identification of the Representative.

b) Regular Mail: Students can also send their Representative a letter via regular mail to either their Representative's district or Washington DC office. To obtain mailing addresses, please refer students to their Member's website. You can find a list of Member Web services on the House website.

3) Address a Member of Congress
There are several correct forms of address for a Member of Congress including "The Honorable" and "Representative". Please note that the Write Your Representative service automatically places the salutation for the Member so students to not need to enter this information.

4) Write body of letter, close, and send letter
Depending on your education objectives, students should express their concerns, questions, and/or comments in the body and then close the letter. If students are using the Write Your Representative feature, they can press the "Send your Message" button to submit their letter. Otherwise students can send the letter via regular mail.