Build Your Civics Fair

RU Ready Civics Fair Toolkit Getting Started

Civics Fair Home

Building Your Civics Fair: The Basics

Hosting an RU Ready Civics Fair takes an ample amount of planning and organizing to ensure your event’s success. Taking time to determine your school’s audience, needs, and limitations allows for a more impactful civics fair for an individual schools student population.

Utilizing an evidence-based approach, our team has tips for planning and executing the RU Ready Civics Fair in a high school setting. Learn more about following tips, including:

  • Planning the RU Ready Civics Fair
  • Executing the RU Ready Civics Fair
  • Expanding Beyond the Civics Fair

Planning Your Civics Fair

How do I receive administrative support?

One of the first items for planning an RU Ready Civics Fair focuses on gaining administrative approval for the event. As an instructor, take the time to map out the location, time, and goals for he events and send the proposal to your administration and key partners with ample time before the event (approx. 4-6 months prior).

Our team suggestions a timeline of 4 to 6 months in advance to allow for any questions, concerns, or necessary approvals that may arise from your request. Be mindful of the fact your proposal may require Board of Education reviewal and coordination with the school calendar.

Where and when should my Civics Fair take place?

Determining the location and time of your school’s RU Ready Civics Fair depends on the school calendar, building schedule, and the best times for engaging students.

After connecting with your school’s administration and other key partners, take the time to scope out a location for the Civics Fair. Here are our location suggestions:

  • Media Center
  • Gymnasium
  • Conference Room
  • Large Classroom
  • Cafeteria

Once a location is chosen, begin considering the best time for hosting the civics fair. Depending on when the most students will be available to visit, here are some time suggestions:

  • Study Hall period
  • Lunch Period
  • Before/After School
  • During class time

Be mindful of the calendar as well, by taking advantage of  Election dates, Holidays, and school events such as Homecoming, graduation festivities, and other community events.

Here are some items to consider when deciding the location and time of the civics fair:

  • If there are plans to utilize a computer or other electronic devices, make sure the room has a quality Wifi connection
  • Partner with instructors to make the Civics Fair a component of a lesson
  • Get creative with the space of your civics fair: If students congregate in certain areas, make plans to have your civics fair in that area

How long should my Civics Fair last?

It’s up to you!

Our team suggests hosting the RU Ready Civics Fair for a minimum of two days to allow for the most students to attend. We don’t have a time amount that should be followed, but we suggest having the fair run for a few hours during the school day. If your administration allows for a full-day of programming, that’s great! However there should not be pressure to host a full-day event if you have limited capacity.

Executing Your Civics Fair

Preparing your volunteers

Civics Fair Set Up Guidelines

Ideas to Consider