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The 1860 Election in Pennsylvania
Young scholars examine the political parties of the 1860 election and compare their platforms. In this election lesson high schoolers determine the meaning of a political cartoon and predict the outcome of the 1860 election.
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Running for Public Office
Students engage in the election process. In this public office instructional activity, students review the election and campaign process then design a campaign for their own selected office election using provided guidelines and links.
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US Presidents
Students work in small groups to analyze various presidential campaigns. In this presidential election lesson, students research election rules, candidates, and winners from 1900 to 2000. Students will create and present an oral report...
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Lose a Vote, Gain a Vote
Students explore the issues behind close Senatorial races. They investigate the qualities of political leaders, the 2002 senatorial elections and the differences and similarities between the Republican and Democratic parties.
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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...
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Citizens of the Future
Young sociologists explore how local, state, and federal governments work. This very impressive and ambitious lesson requires pupils to contact government officials who represent them and their families. They research elections, and hold...
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Voter Behavior
Transform your government students into informed voters with this straightforward learning exercise. Five matching questions and five multiple choice questions test students' knowledge on voter behavior and political parties, and the...
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The Campaign: Issues and Strategies. What do you think?
Young scholars research a candidate in an election and discuss how the media portrays that candidate and how the media influences voters. For this candidate lesson plan, students also distinguish fact from opinion, look at political...
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Your Vote Counts! Election Activity
Students participate in a simulated election. They serve as 'checkers', marking off names of those who vote, a ballot person hands out ballots, and ballot sorters and counters. Teacher rigs up a voting booth where voters mark ballots...
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Candidate KWL
In this social studies learning exercise, students use this KWL graphic organizer to identify what they know about a candidate, want to know and have learned about a candidate. This could be used for school, local or national elections.
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Songs of the Times: American Concerns in 19th Century Campaigns
Learners examine campaign songs from the 1840, 1848, and 1860 elections to explore the campaign strategies of 19th century political parties.
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1960 Election
Students examine the election of 1960. In this US politics lesson students listen to a teacher driven lecture, take notes, engage in a class discussion and write a response to what they have learned regarding the 1960's presidential...
Classroom Law Project
What are some of today’s voting issues? Voting in Oregon, youth vote, and technology
The youth vote. Rock the Vote. Vote-By-Mail. Electronic voting. Class members investigate issues facing today's voters, and the ways they have adapted over the years to optimize voter turnout.
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...
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Electoral College
Eleventh graders discover how the Electoral College works. For this presidential elections lesson, 11th graders compare and contrast the Electoral College and popular vote as they participate in a classroom simulation. Students also...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Primary Targets
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about primary elections and respond to 3 short answer questions.
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It's an Ad Eats Ad World
Students explore the power and influence of television advertisements in presidential campaigns. They choose issues in the 2004 campaign and create promotional materials addressing these issues from varying points of view.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Epic Battle Rages On
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze political cartoons about the election of 2008 and respond to 3 talking point questions.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: An Educated Electorate Takes its Mid-Term
For this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about mid-term elections in the United States and respond to 3 talking point questions.
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I'm Number One!
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the first seven presidents of the U.S. They conduct research, write a four-paragraph essay, and create posters and speeches for a simulated campaign convention.
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TV ATTACK ADS AND THE VOTER
High schoolers read about the history of negative political advertisements in U.S. elections. In this politics lesson, students view several ads for opposing candidates and analyze and discuss the content. High schoolers write scripts...
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Campaign 2004: Classroom Electorate
High schoolers role play as political analysts first forecasting the electoral college vote in a presidential election and then, following the results of the actual count. They study the role of swing states, and why political...
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Why Vote? A Public Awareness Campaign
Students examine the structure of local government and determine why citizens vote. In this civics lesson, students listen to a lecture about the structure of local government and then encourage others to exercise their right to vote.
Classroom Jr.
Running for President Story Starter
Most American children have, at one point or another, imagined what it would be like to run for president. Offer this creative writing prompt to young writers and discover how the world would change if kids were charge.