On The Issues – Housing & Homelessness Curriculum

During the 2024 session, Legislative Pages (students ages 14-16) had the opportunity to
interview legislators from both the Majority party and the Minority party about issues of interest.
In this lesson, students will learn about where the Majority Party, currently the Democrats, and
the Minority Party, currently the Republicans, stand on two important policies surrounding
Housing and Homelessness: affordable housing and housing availability.

Essential Questions

  • How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
  • To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?
  • How is Washington State addressing the housing shortage?

20 minute Housing Lesson Plan

On Housing
Some of the most pressing issues facing Washington State revolve around housing and homelessness, including the high cost of housing, the availability of affordable housing, the number of people experiencing homelessness, and the soaring costs of building more housing. In the 2024 Legislative Session alone, there are hundreds of bills introduced that are related to these issues, so they are on the minds of all legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike. Legislative House Page Abigail Peterson asks Senators Kuderer and Fortunato what is being done to address the housing needs of low and middle income people. LESSON PLANS: 20 min Lesson Plan on Housing and Homelessness: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXf1SC7IRjpVu9266UYaWRRhwmiOrvtx/view?usp=sharing OR – Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing Discussion Questions: 1. How does Senator Fortunato define affordable housing? What does he think the government should do to promote affordable housing? 2. How does Senator Kuderer define affordable housing? What does she think the government should do to promote affordable housing? 3. How are their ideas similar to one another? How are they different? 4. What statements resonate with you? Why? 5. What follow up questions could you ask of the Senators to help you determine your own opinion? On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared #Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. Learn more at: www.teachwithtvw.org #TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

Some of the most pressing issues facing Washington State revolve around housing and homelessness, including the high cost of housing, the availability of affordable housing, the number of people experiencing homelessness, and the soaring costs of building more housing. In the 2024 Legislative Session alone, there are hundreds of bills introduced that are related to these issues, so they are on the minds of all legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Legislative House Page Abigail Peterson asks Senators Kuderer and Fortunato what is being done to address the housing needs of low and middle income people.

LESSON PLANS:
20 min Lesson Plan on Housing and Homelessness:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXf1SC7IRjpVu9266UYaWRRhwmiOrvtx/view?usp=sharing
OR –
Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day
On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Senator Fortunato define affordable housing? What does he think the government should do to promote affordable housing?
2. How does Senator Kuderer define affordable housing? What does she think the government should do to promote affordable housing?
3. How are their ideas similar to one another? How are they different?
4. What statements resonate with you? Why?
5. What follow up questions could you ask of the Senators to help you determine your own opinion?

On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

#Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

Learn more at: www.teachwithtvw.org

#TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

YouTube Video UEw3NUY4RTJydjRTQ0tfMlpXbmJaSHBMZVE5VW1JeFRXRS41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2
Some of the most pressing issues facing Washington State revolve around housing and homelessness, including the high cost of housing, the availability of affordable housing, the number of people experiencing homelessness, and the soaring costs of building more housing. In the 2024 Legislative Session alone, there are hundreds of bills introduced that are related to these issues, so they are on the minds of all legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike. Legislative Senate Page, Boen Liu asks Senators Kuderer and Fortunato what is being done to address the challenge of home ownership. LESSON PLANS: 20 min Lesson Plan on Housing and Homelessness: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXf1SC7IRjpVu9266UYaWRRhwmiOrvtx/view?usp=sharing OR – Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing Discussion Questions: 1. Senator Kuderer speaks about a piece of legislation that she sponsored in the 2024 legislative session. How does she think that it would have ensured equitable housing? 2. What policies does Senator Kuderer believe will address the diminishing supply of homes? 3. Senator Fortunato speaks of entry level homes. How does he think increasing the amount of available land will increase the problem of diminishing housing supply? 4. What do you think are the main differences between the Senators' beliefs in how to best address the housing crisis? 5. What follow up questions could you ask of Senator Kuderer and Senator Fortunato to help you determine your own opinion? On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared #Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. Learn more at: www.teachwithtvw.org #TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

Some of the most pressing issues facing Washington State revolve around housing and homelessness, including the high cost of housing, the availability of affordable housing, the number of people experiencing homelessness, and the soaring costs of building more housing. In the 2024 Legislative Session alone, there are hundreds of bills introduced that are related to these issues, so they are on the minds of all legislators, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Legislative Senate Page, Boen Liu asks Senators Kuderer and Fortunato what is being done to address the challenge of home ownership.

LESSON PLANS:
20 min Lesson Plan on Housing and Homelessness:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXf1SC7IRjpVu9266UYaWRRhwmiOrvtx/view?usp=sharing
OR –
Give students a more comprehensive understanding of legislative committees with the 1 to 2 day
On The Issues: Legislative Committees Lesson Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VCoZsUNe1TQQUZOIa3-uEbac47ALKmIcf-06iNCLWqs/edit?usp=sharing

Discussion Questions:

1. Senator Kuderer speaks about a piece of legislation that she sponsored in the 2024 legislative session. How does she think that it would have ensured equitable housing?
2. What policies does Senator Kuderer believe will address the diminishing supply of homes?
3. Senator Fortunato speaks of entry level homes. How does he think increasing the amount of available land will increase the problem of diminishing housing supply?
4. What do you think are the main differences between the Senators' beliefs in how to best address the housing crisis?
5. What follow up questions could you ask of Senator Kuderer and Senator Fortunato to help you determine your own opinion?

On The Issues Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

#Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

Learn more at: www.teachwithtvw.org

#TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #waleg #youthvoice #civics101 #participate #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate

YouTube Video UEw3NUY4RTJydjRTQ0tfMlpXbmJaSHBMZVE5VW1JeFRXRS4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy

Want to give your students a deeper dive into the Legislative Committee process?

One Class Period Legislative Committees Lesson Plan

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