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Exploring the Electoral College Lesson PlanExploring the Electoral College Lesson Plan
Publisher
Carolina K-12
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
8th - 12th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
2 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
1 hr 30 mins
Instructional Strategies
Discussion
3 more...
Technology
Video
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Lesson Plan

Exploring the Electoral College

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Exploring the Electoral College lesson plan also includes:
  • Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College Explained
  • Join to access all included materials

Does your vote really count? This activity helps young voters learn about the electoral college through a TED talk, a helpful handout, discussion prompts, and then a role-playing activity that has participants simulating an election on a small scale so they really see the process in action. Finally, class members break into committees to evaluate the merits of the electoral college system and decide for themselves whether or not to keep the college.

46 Views 43 Downloads

Concepts

the electoral college, the electoral process, the electoral vote, elections, the united states government, north carolina

Additional Tags

social studies

Instructional Ideas

  • While some focus is given to North Carolina in the lesson, the activities can be easily adapted to your state to make it more interesting for class members
  • Expand by having scholars investigate other possible voting methods (direct, run-off) or learning about the election process in other modern democracies

Classroom Considerations

  • Requires Internet access to watch the TED talk

Pros

  • The role-playing component fosters deeper understanding of the electoral system
  • Makes accessible an issue that is often shrouded in misconceptions and secrecy

Cons

  • While easily remedied, the resource hasn't been updated to reflect the recent 2016 election 

See similar resources:

Handout

2016 Electoral College Map

C-SPAN
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...
7th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Writing

The Electoral College

Carolina K-12
Is the Electoral College the best method of electing the president of the United States? Your young historians will write a persuasive essay discussing the historical perspective of the college, pros and cons, and a final argument...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

What does the Constitution say about voting? Constitutional Amendments and the Electoral College

Classroom Law Project
As part of a study of voting rights in the US, class members examine Constitutional amendments connected with voting and the role of the Electoral College in the election process.
7th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Electoral College

City University of New York
A presidential election is a lot like the 2004 World Series, and it's also a lot like choosing an orange in a paper bag. Apply the process of the electoral college to these two analogies with a set of lessons about government...
7th - 8th Social Studies & History
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Lesson Plan

Into Which Caste Have You Been Cast?: India's Caste System

Oklahoma Bar Association
What was it like to fit into a certain class with no choice in the matter? Learners experience the caste system in a role-play activity, work individually on handouts to enhance their learning, and participate in an evaluation activity...
6th - 8th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Electoral College: Does My Vote Count?

K20 LEARN
How can a candidate get the most votes, yet still lose the race for the presidency? This is has happened more than once in American history, including in the elections of 2000 and 2016. Using an activity for creating group notes, young...
9th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College Explained

TED-Ed
What exactly is the electoral college and how does it operate in a presidential election? While this can seem confusing to young citizens, help demystify this body of individuals who are designated to formally elect the president...
5 mins 8th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

A Defense of the Electoral College

National Endowment for the Humanities
Each presidential election year, the debate about the electoral college rages. Michael C. Maibach's "A Defense of the Electoral College" offers young political scientists an opportunity to examine a reasoned argument for why the...
9th - 12th Social Studies & History
Interactive

PBS Electoral Decoder

PBS
Imagine being able to explore all the presidential elections from 1789-2016! Being able to examine the key events, how the states voted, and the importance of the Electoral College in each of the elections! A PBS cartogram makes all this...
6th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Handout

Electoral College

ProCon
The Electoral College's role in elections is sometimes confusing and controversial. Pupils use a debate topics website to research the pros and cons of the practice to debate whether the United States should still use the Electoral...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
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