The Dirksen Center wants to help teachers teach better by giving them the opportunity to use technology to create, customize, and share online learning activities in their classrooms. The Center wants to help students learn more by bringing educational resources together in one place that provide new ways to learn about Congress interactively.

AMERICAN CONGRESS GOVERNMENT SIMULATION & TRIVIA

In American Congress you get to play as a Representative, Mayor, or Governor. You basically simulate the wide-ranging and complex American government. It's in your hands whether you want to legalize abortion, declare war on a small country, or destroy your political rivals!

Trivia: Which Speaker of the House later became President of the United States?

1. James Nance Garner
2. James Madison
3. Harry S. Truman
4. James K. Polk [Answer: Polk was one of the very few Presidents to deliver on all his campaign promises. He served one term and died shortly thereafter. Other Speakers have run for the Presidency and lost such as Henry Clay and James G. Blaine in the 19th Century. FDR's Vice President, James Garner, was a Speaker. But normally it takes a great deal of time and effort to attain the office of Speaker and few wish to give that up in order to take a chance on running for President. Truman never served in the House. Madison served in the House but was never elected to the Speakership.]

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to February 2009's Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0209.htm

Do you have or know of an online activity you would like The Dirksen Congressional Center to feature on its new Web site for students -- Congress for Kids? The Center is currently seeking online activities that provide new ways to learn about Congress and the workings of the federal government interactively.

If you have questions or suggestions for online activities, contact Cindy Koeppel.