Program Offerings for Grades K-5

Welcoming Words
Grade K-3
In-person visit (2 hours) or virtual program (1 hour)
Number of participants: 10-60 students (virtual and in-person)
Learn about the Statue of Liberty and how she is a symbol of welcome for new immigrants. In this program students will listen to a story about Lady Liberty, think about what it means to welcome others, and work on a creative activity together with an Institute staff member.

Future Senator
Grades 3-5
In-person visit (2 hours) or virtual program (1 hour)
Number of participants: 10-60 students (virtual) or 10-100 students (in-person)
With a little help from WGBH’s Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, Future Senators consider whether the federal government should make the school day longer. Students interview “expert witnesses” and cast their vote in the Kennedy Institute’s Senate chamber or on the virtual Senate floor.

Pathways to Citizenship
Grades 4-8
In-person visit (2 hours) or virtual program (1 hour)
Number of participants: 10-60 students (virtual) or 10-100 students (in-person)
Students learn about the challenges facing modern-day immigrants and work together as Senators to build a bill that defines a pathway to citizenship for four groups of undocumented immigrants: DREAMers, farm workers, refugees, and a general immigrant population.

Pathways to Environmental Justice
Grades 4-8
In-person visit (2 hours) or virtual program (1 hour)
Number of participants: 10-60 students (virtual) or 10-100 students (in-person)
Students learn about the challenges posed by climate change and the need to transition to a more climate- and environmentally-friendly economy. They will also work together as Senators to build a bill that provides assistance and environmental justice for three distinct groups of people affected by climate change: frontline and vulnerable communities, fossil fuel workers, and young people.