Set up projects in which participants create a model Congress, model Supreme Court, model United Nations, or other political or legislative group. Beyond debating policies within the "chambers," participants should represent special interest groups, experts and the media. This will allow students to explore all parts of political life. For example, someone serving as a member of Congress might make a decision that is questioned later by the media. The practice will allow all participants to research the issues and understand how the different aspects of government work.
When political debates are played out on television, sound bites are the norm and conflict is what normally makes the news. Create a political debate about current issues in the news that goes beyond the political advertisements and talking points to allow participants to examine each issue more fully. Most issues being debated in politics are not black and white--strong arguments can be made on both sides. Allowing people to express opinions backed up by fact in a safe environment can add to political consciousness and cause people to understand why no issue is easy.
Democracies, theocracies and dictatorships exist around the world, yet each country sets their government up in different ways. Some countries have direct democracies where the people vote on each decision while others are representative democracies where elected officials make decisions for their constituencies. Exploring these different types of governments can help to explain the varying approaches to global issues. Participants can also learn how these different types of governments interact with each other and the issues that arise.