Middle Gate Students Learn About Connecticut’s Government

By Eliza Hallabeck

Fourth grade students at Middle Gate Elementary School learned about the state’s government during a presentation from the Hartford Connecticut Historical Society on Thursday, October 25.

Khalil Quotap, with the Connecticut Historical Society, visited the classrooms to help students understand how the state’s government works. During Mr Quotap’s presentations, he had students demonstrate the different branches of the state’s government, had students participate in a mock election, and had students hold a trial.

Mr Quotap explained what the three branches of the government does. Students were asked to volunteer to represent the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of the government. While explaining how a bill becomes a law, Mr Quotap had students pass a rolled up piece of paper, the bill, from one branch to the other as it was passed or rejected by the different branches of government.

After Mr Quotap explained the process of how a bill becomes a law, he said all the branches are balanced in their powers.

To demonstrate how elections work, Mr Quotap asked student volunteers to run for office, and prepare speeches about how they would make Connecticut safer. Once the students shared what they would do if elected, the class voted for either Candidate A or for Candidate B.

“After you vote you get a sticker, just like if you really voted,” Mr Quotap explained.

After the election, student volunteers held a mock trial.

Information about the Connecticut Historical Society is available at www.chs.org.