PBS
What Are the Primaries and Caucuses?
What are the essential differences between primaries and caucuses? As part of a study of the process by which Americans select their candidates for US president, class members examine the nominating process, the changes that have...
Curated OER
Funding a Way to the Top
Review economic vocabulary, presidential election campaigns, and current campaign budgets (2004). Your class will determine how they feel about the amount of money spent on presidential campaigns, they will read an informational article,...
Curated OER
The Perfect President
Students advertise for the perfect president. In this presidential duties lesson plan, students determine the attributes that the ideal president should have and then write job descriptions for the role.
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
Voter Behavior
Transform your government students into informed voters with this straightforward activity. Five matching questions and five multiple choice questions test students' knowledge on voter behavior and political parties, and the format lends...
Curated OER
Texas Kid Writes Book About Presidents
Arranged into small groups, learners read a paragraph of the news story "Texas Kid Writes Book About Presidents." As one reads, others mark the text (underlining important information and writing notes in the margin of the story). After...
Curated OER
Reviewing the Election Process by NOW Classroom for PBS
Learners take a closer look at presidential elections. In this election process instructional activity, students discuss the roles of the primary, caucus, polls, Electoral College, delegates, and lobbyists in the process. Learners then...
Curated OER
The Candidate: Issues and Strategies
Young scholars discuss the candidates image and how an image impacts the voters. In this candidates image lesson plan, students read and discuss different factors that make up the candidates image.
Curated OER
Closest Presidential Race Ever. . . Or Is It?
Students examine the presidential election of 2000. In this American history instructional activity, students listen to their instructor lecture on the details of the 2000 election. Students respond to discussion questions and...
Curated OER
Mock Election
Here is an excellent PowerPoint presenting loads of information about the US election process. Some of the topics included in the slide show: the reasons voting is important, how to choose a candidate, how the federal, state, and local...
ProCon
President Bill Clinton
Was Bill Clinton a good president? Scholars set out to answer the question as they prepare for a class debate on the topic. They watch videos, review pros and cons, and read facts about the process of becoming a United States president....
ProCon
Drone Strikes Overseas
Should the United States continue the practice of using drone strikes abroad? Readers explore the top pro and con arguments in preparation for a debate or discussion about the topic. They read about the history of drone strikes, view a...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Analyzing Political Campaign Commercials
Imagine a lesson that models for learners how to separate facts from opinions. How to detect bias. How to evaluate a source of information. How to identify propaganda. Although designed for middle schoolers, the activities in this packet...
C-SPAN
2016 Electoral College Map
The electoral college can be confusing for citizens of any age. Clear up misconceptions with a handy printable map that details how many electoral votes are allotted to each state, as well as a history of modern elections, complete with...
Curated OER
Voting: Your Civic Responsibility
Fifth graders research the viewpoints of the major Presidential candidates. Using this information, they create brochure comparing and contrasting them on important issues. They write a persuasive essay to state the importance of voting...
Curated OER
The Campaign: Issues and Strategies. Campaign Press Coverage
Middle schoolers discuss and fill out worksheets on the amount and type of press coverage given to certain candidates. In this press coverage lesson plan, students complete 4 worksheets and view maps of the United States to see where the...
Curated OER
Making Informed Decisions
Pupils discuss various issues of importance in the 1998 congressional and gubernatorial elections, create comparison charts of their states' candidates' positions on these issues, and decide which candidate they would vote for based on...
Curated OER
Growing Voters and Election 2004: Classroom Debate
High schoolers 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
Nation Issues 2000
Eighth graders discuss an important issue and then vote on one of four candidates for President based on their views on the issue.
Curated OER
"The Election"
Learners participate in an election for the purpose of comprehending the political process and the responsibilities that come with citizenship in a free society. They elect officials with no identity and are surprised with the revealing...
Curated OER
It's Up for Debate
In this lesson, students investigate the different platforms of each of the Presidential hopefuls for the 2000 election. Small groups each carefully research the platforms of an assigned candidate and then create a political pamphlet...
Curated OER
The Eleventh Hour
Students examine their own understanding of the issues and events that are framing this year's presidential race. They explore the candidates' stances on eight issues and present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
Tally of the 1824 Electoral College Vote
Twelfth graders study the parts of the Constitution that address presidential election. They complete a variety of activities designed to spark debate about the flaws in the Electoral College system.
Curated OER
Presidential Election 2008:Making Decisions about Political Candidates
Students think critically about political candidates. In this election lesson, students research candidates and use information sources to explore their stands on issues.