C-SPAN
Debates
How do the presidential debates of 2016 compare to the debates from the 1980's? What about the 1960's? Evaluate a chosen candidate or issue from the 20th and 21st centuries with a lesson plan focused on political debates. Middle and high...
Curated OER
The Organization of Political Parties
Challenge the future world leaders in your class with this instructional activity, which tests their knowledge on the organization of modern political parties. Students can access their prior knowledge of current elections, or notes from...
Curated OER
Campaign Signs and Pranksters
Pupils interview a selected candidate and find out his or her views on important issues and what he/she hopes to convey to voters. They write and design campaign flyers. Students create final mock-ups of the materials.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Political Issue Timeline
As part of a study of US Presidential elections, class members track the history of an issue in the 2020 campaign. They create a timeline to determine if there are any patterns, if ideas about the issue have evolved, or if in issue is no...
C-SPAN
Evaluating Historical Presidential Campaign Ads
Political ads flood the airwaves each election cycle. An activity including more than a dozen political ads from iconic presidential campaigns helps learners unpack how the sausage gets made during election "silly season." Using the...
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
The Campaign of 1840: William Henry Harrison and Tyler, Too
Students list some issues important during the campaign of 1840. They compare and contrast the careers of Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison before they became president and explain why the Whigs wanted to find a candidate in...
Curated OER
Comparing Canadian and U.S. Political Systems and Political Campaigns
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this political systems lesson, students conduct research to compare and contrast the forms of government in the United States and...
Curated OER
Election 2005: Campaign Issues
Students take a closer look at the election of 2005. In this British politics lesson, students listen to a lecture about the 2005 campaign and active citizenship. Students then create collages and news boards about the election. Older...
Curated OER
The Campaign of 1840: The Whigs, the Democrats, and the Issues
Students reflect on the nature of the campaign of 1840. They identify the positions of the Democrats and the Whigs and their basic differences.
Curated OER
Political Issues Survey
Fifth graders develop and conduct a survey regarding issues in a current political campaign. They distribute and collect the surveys, input the data using a spreadsheet program, and compare/contrast the recorded results.
School Improvement in Maryland
Evaluating Political Advertisements
How do interest groups try to influence elections? As part of their study of the election process, groups view 30-second advertisements produced by advocacy groups and use the provided worksheet to evaluate these ads. They then craft...
Museum of the Moving Image
Evaluating Information: Focus on the 2008 Election
Just how true is the information contained in political ads? Determining the veracity of campaign ads from the 2008 presidential race is the focus of a instructional activity that introduces class members to several fact-checking resources.
Humanities Texas
Primary Source Worksheet: Text of “Prouder, Stronger, Better"
Political ads as primary source documents? But of course. Viewers analyze the strategies involved in the Republican Party's 1984 advertisement in support of Ronald Reagan's reelection.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Campaign Photo Analysis
It's the art of the image! As part of a study of the 2020 Presidential race, groups analyze an image of a candidate, first from an objective point of view and then subjectively. They then prepare a presentation detailing what they...
iCivics
Mock Election
Here is an excellent resource in which class members host a mock election for a candidate and policy that will be implemented into your very own classroom. Progressing from primaries, through the campaign trail, and finally to the mock...
Curated OER
The Legacy of Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady
In the wake of her recent passing, spend some time acquainting your class with the life of a woman who was highly influential in politics.
Curated OER
The Campaign Process
In this sequencing the campaign process worksheet, students arrange the steps of political campaigning in the correct order and write details explaining how to do each step. Students rearrange and write seven short answers.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaign Fundraising
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about American campaign fundraising and respond to 3 talking point questions.
C-SPAN
Campaign Endorsement Project
So many politicians, so many endorsements! Learn to differentiate between facts as well as the process of endorsements with an informative resource. Class members watch current endorsement videos, research candidates from three different...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Troubled Elections of 1796 and 1800
Congress does more than create new laws. Political scientists delve into the elections of 1796 and 1800 to understand how political parties, the Electoral College, and personal agendas affected the election process. The resource also...
Curated OER
Political Parties in Campaign 2004
High schoolers examine the 2004 campaigns of John Kerry and George W. Bush. They identify the parties and their stance on important issues. They use the internet to research information and complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Money and Politics, A History Lesson
In this current events activity, learners analyze a political cartoon about campaign finance in America and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Campaign Echoes
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze a political cartoon about the 2008 Presidential campaign and respond to 3 talking point questions.