Unit Plan
Museum of the Moving Image

Museum of the Moving Image: Living Room Candidate (Campaign Ads)

For Students 9th - 10th
Online exhibition of presidential campaign ads, 1952-2008, organized by election year, theme, and political issue. Audio/video presentations of ads can be viewed alongside written transcripts, making Living Room Candidate particularly...
Handout
USA Today

Usa today.com: Politics: Campaign 2004

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource features an index of the 2004 candidates, key issues, and the results of the 2004 campaigns.
Handout
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Literary Themes in the Campaign

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look at popular literary themes that are reflected in the political cartoons of 1896, the year in which William Jennings Bryant challenged William McKinley for the presidency.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: Political Commercials Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars will have the opportunity to analyze political commercials for truths and misconceptions, then make one of their own.
Activity
Other

Make Beliefs Comix: Printables Category: Elections and Political

For Students 4th - 8th
A collection of printable comics where students complete an activity, such as design a campaign bumper sticker, imagine a conversation between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, or make a list of ideas that would promote the rights of women.
Website
PBS

Pbs : Politi fact.com Tracks Obama's Campaign Promise Follow Through

For Students 9th - 10th
PolitiFact.com, a Pulitzer prize winning political reporting organization offers an evaluation of President Obama's campaign promises after his 100 days in office. Includes a 14 minute audio story with a link to more indpeth analysis of...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: The :30 Second Candidate

For Students 9th - 10th
Great PBS site for the Democracy Project. This site is all about televisions role in political advertising. There is a timeline, step-by-step process of commercials, and a look at tricks of the trade.
Lesson Plan
Lin and Don Donn

Lin and Don Donn: u.s. History Lessons: Elections, Parties, Campaigns

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides suggestions for lesson plans and unit plans to teach about the U.S. system of elections, political parties, and campaigns.
Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Responding to Comarison/contrast: Unusual Smear Campaigns [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this PDF lesson plan, students unpack two opposite concepts by creating an imaginary "Smear Campaign," pretending the two concepts are opposing each other in election. Students may create print, radio, or television ads to show how...
Activity
Other

Square Pegs and Round Holes: Applying Campaign Finance Law to Internet

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive discussion of campaign finance laws as they relate to the internet. Focus on the election of 2000.
Website
CBS

Cbs news.com: Campaign 04

For Students 9th - 10th
This CBS News site still covers the presidential election of 2004, covering the major parties and their candidates, the issues of the campaign, photos, audio/video content, information on the primaries and caucuses, and the like.
Unit Plan
Other

Tami: Times Are a Changin' Development of the Two Party System in Texas

For Students 6th - 8th
A collection of historical videos of political campaigns in Texas, which students analyze after an exploration of what qualities an effective political leader should have. They explore and discuss what Democrats and Republicans say in...
Website
Other

Real Clear Politics: Polls: Election 2016 Presidential Polls

For Students 9th - 10th
Website with news and information on the polls of the 2016 presidential campaign.
Activity
Other

Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2001 report outlines issues related to soft money in American politics. Emphasis on definitions, sources of soft money and related congressional activity.
Lesson Plan
Museum of the Moving Image

Museum of the Moving Image: Admaker, Obama vs. Mc Cain: "Fundamentals" (2008)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan to accompany two interactive activities. In the first activity, students must convert a political ad for Barack Obama into one that promotes John McCain. The second activity has them create their own campaign ad. The ads...
Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Campaign 2004: The Presidential Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive web page that contains an a slideshows of the 2004 presidential debates with analysis, video of the debates, and transcripts.
Activity
CNN

Cnn: All Politics: Candidates

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the advertisement reads that the "free" two and a half minutes given to each candidate in the 1996 Presidential election will be soundbite free, in actuality the two and a half minute speeches are lengthy sound bites.
Article
University of Maryland

Department of Sociology: Polls Take Commanding Lead in Politics, Business

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Article presents a useful discussion on the basics of public opinion polling, problems with the polling process, sources of public opinion data and tips for consumers.
Website
Other

Center for Responsive Politics: Open Secrets

For Students 9th - 10th
Opensecrets.org is a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy.
Website
Other

The Political Graveyard: Election of 1892

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from The Political Graveyard just lists the electoral votes each candidate received in the 1892 election. Links to brief biographical listings about each candidate and elector.
Handout
Other

The Political Graveyard: Election of 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from The Political Graveyard just lists the electoral votes each candidate received in the 1896 election. Links to brief biographical listings about each candidate and elector.
Activity
BBC

Bbc News: How to Elect a Us President

For Students 9th - 10th
Electing a US President can be a political marathon. The British Broadcasting Company helps make this process easier to understand by explaining it in key stages.
Website
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Sectional Interests

For Students 9th - 10th
Website explores "sectionalism" and the political cartoons associated with the 1896 presidential election. Also, includes quotes from publications around the country.
Graphic
Curated OER

Usa today.com: Politics: Campaign 2004

For Students 9th - 10th
Top headlines are updated daily. Features an index of the 2004 candidates and their positions on various issues of the campaign. The latest polls can also be viewed here.