Smithsonian Institution
The American Presidency: Grades 4-6
An interesting unit explains the American presidency from the campaign trail all the way to the role of the president. Historians participate in discussions, create posters, conduct Internet research, and more to gain an understanding of...
Theodore Roosevelt Association
Roosevelt's Legacy: Conservation
The legacy of Theodore Roosevelt carries through modern American politics, economics, foreign policy, and society. But his proudest and most profound efforts were in the world of conservation, and in preserving the natural beauty of...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Get out the Vote Campaign
While some of your learners may be too young to vote, they can get involved in the election process by creating a nonpartisan campaign encouraging voter registration. After researching how to register to vote, class members design PSAs,...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Campaign Finance Reform
Students develop arguments for and against campaign finance reform, examine federal and state laws that attempt to limit contributions to political candidates, evaluate various plans for campaign finance reform and formulate their own...
Museum of the Moving Image
Political Ads in Historical Context
Campaign ads target both timely issues and general themes. Presidential campaign ads from 1952 and 1988 provide class members an opportunity to compare how the topics ads choose to address can dramatically influence election outcomes.
Curated OER
Growing Voters and Election 2004: Classroom Debate
Students research the issues and platforms of candidates and separate propaganda from process in order to choose a candidate to support. Students examine political parties and their contributions to shaping the foundation of the...
Curated OER
Campaign Trail Reports
In this Presidential Election 2008 worksheet, students research the listed candidates and respond to 4 questions about the candidates. Students present their findings to their classmates.
Curated OER
The Head Bone Derby
Ninth graders use the internet to explore the responsibilities and opportunities of voting. They research information on candidates and write questions for presidential candidates.
Curated OER
US Presidential Election Process and the Campaign Trail
High schoolers campaign for president. In this presidential election instructional activity, students discuss the process of electing presidents, write their own campaign songs, research a campaign train schedule, and create campaign maps.
Curated OER
Select-a-Lawmaker
Pupils are assigned a party faction, examine bills voted on by their party faction last year, and find a candidate with a similiar view of government.
Curated OER
Playing it Safe
Students explore the importance of an election and act as political advisers for an upcoming election. Students create platforms for various candidates, by writing a letter to their candidate with suggestions for winning the election.
Curated OER
Justices for All
Learners examine role of Supreme Court justices in the American political process, research the qualities of the current Supreme Court justices, and write opinion papers evaluating the current justices and recommending future nominations.
Curated OER
A Positive Spin
Study word choice and connotation in advertising. Readers examine campaign ads, both negative and positive, from the 2006 mid-term election before discussing an article and analyze a campaign of any candidate they choose. Finally, they...
Curated OER
Trade Wars: the Candidates Take a Stand
Students research topics related to trade, and develop a graphic organizer. They debate and discuss topics related to trade.
Curated OER
Politics Up Close: An Election Assignment
Students examine the Canadian electoral process through participation in a local election campaign. They volunteer in an election campaign of their choice, research the campaign issues, and write reflections of their experience.
Curated OER
Candidate Debate; Making Informed Voting Decisions
Students study the concept of what it means to be an informed voter who makes conscientious voting decisions based on significant information. In this making informed voting decisions lesson plan, students are introduces to a unit on...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Candidate Issue Positions
Pupils examine the positions of candidates on various issues. Using visual displays, they describe the platforms and positions of candidates on specific issues. Students include opposing views in their displays from other candidates.
Curated OER
Red, Undecided, and Blue
Students analyze voter preferences in past elections, and then write letters to a presidential candidate, recommending winning strategies drawn from their research.
Curated OER
Ad Nauseam
Students explore the role of special-interest groups in American campaigns. They create their own political advertisements.
Curated OER
Who Could Have Been Who
Can word choice affect a candidate's likeability? Use a New York Times lesson to explore how a presidential candidate's likeability factor can fluctuate in public opinion polls. Young readers choose a presidential election from their...
Curated OER
The Election Is in the House: The Denouement
Students research the US Presidential election of 1824. They explain why the election of 1824 was decided in the House of Representatives. They summarize relevant portions of the Constitution on presidential election procedures.
Curated OER
Election 2000
Seventh graders explore issues facing the potential leader of our country, form opinions about the candidates representing the two major political parties, research election material and choose candidates, conduct debates, and vote in...
Curated OER
What are the Issues?
Seventh graders complete political analysis activities. For this political analysis lesson, 7th graders discuss party platforms and research party issues for their party's candidate's positions. Students complete an issues organizer and...
Curated OER
Kids Voting USA
Ninth graders use technology to learn about the right to vote and research information on candidates. They write questions for presidential candidates. Students read online chats with different candidates for senate and presidency.