Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858: Interactive Map Activity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students utilize an interactive map to explore the 1858 Senate campaign in Illinois. They examine how factors such as population, transportation, and party strongholds can affect campaign strategies. Students write an essay discussing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Propaganda Techniques

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize and separate various techniques of propaganda.  In this propaganda lesson, students read a handout about the various types of propaganda and how it is used ina political campaign.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Issues in the Election of 1828 and Beyond

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research the campaign and election issues of Andrew Jackson. In this presidential election lesson, students research the campaign of 1828. Students then list the important issues. Students discuss the political advertisements in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Campaign of 1840: The Candidates

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners compare and contrast William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren as candidates for president. They explain why the Whigs wanted to find a candidate in the mold of former president Andrew Jackson and discuss whether Harrison fit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon: A Publicity Campaign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the environment by designing a group project.  In this ecology instructional activity, students identify the man made threats to the Amazon while reading environmentally conscience vocabulary terms. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Endorsements: Newspapers Decide

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students read The Plain Dealer editorial about its "non-support" of a candidate and other articles about this and discuss the newspaper's role in the political process. Students then form an editorial board and debate which candidate...
PPT
Curated OER

The Election of 1844

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Briefly detailing the goals and issues within the Polk election and presidency, this presentation can help your students to bridge their knowledge of American politics and issues prior to the Civil War. It includes photographs of Polk,...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
Lesson Plan
City University of New York

Urban Politics: Machines and Reformers

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Take a trip to the turn of the twentieth century with a resource about industrialism in America. With primary source documents and focus questions, learners think about the ways that government groups and organizations paved the way...
Lesson Plan
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Caucus 101

Linkage Institutions: Interest Groups: Option A

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How are elections really run and won? Learn about special interest groups, super PACs, and lobbyists with an engaging lesson about the caucus process. Young voters research specific interest groups and analyze their part in previous and...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Presidential Campaigning--Front Porch Style

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare and contrast "front porch" political campaigns and modern day traveling campaigns of past presidents. Using the internet and other sources, they explore President Harding's campaign and platform. Using the internet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CANDIDATE COMPARISON

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students identify the names of major contemporary political parties. They explain why a person might choose to vote for one candidate for President of the United States over another candidate. They identify the two major political...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does Money Talk?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe role that money plays in politics, and write an editorial that explains whether or not they think money gives some people too much influence in government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Than Mock Elections

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a presidential campaign story. In this presidential campaign lesson, students produce, direct and act in their own campaign story. Stories focus on setting, characters, context, critical incidents, and concluding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Theme Song

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students listen to music and the different messages it sends and then they make a theme song for a campaign. For this theme song lesson plan, students learn about propaganda and the importance of music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Way Editorial Cartoons Work

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders interpret visual language found in political cartoons.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Obama Baggage

For Students 9th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon about President Obama and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storytellers: Pearl Jam "Never Let Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story"

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars analyze the lyrics from a Pearl Jam song and examine the concept of truth in political advertising. They watch the video, "VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam," participate in a class discussion, conduct research, and prepare a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Money in Elections:What is it Doing to America?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the role of money in American elections. For this current events lesson, students read and discuss articles that address money and political campaigns. Students may conduct further research on the topics presented in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ad Nauseam

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the role of special-interest groups in American campaigns. They create their own political advertisements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Election-Year Issues: Where Do the Political Candidates Stand?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a multimedia presentation to compare the platforms of political candidates using information gathered from their research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Project Politics

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers form a Political Campaign Agency and try to secure the job of crating a studenT book about politics through the eyes of Students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Advertisements

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students are shown how to analyze the messages and the impact of the candidates' politicial adertisements in print, video, and audio formats. They are shown the techniques that candidates use to influence voter decisions and how to...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Superhero Science

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scientist explore the various positions in the debate on stem cell research and then discuss these perspectives before formulating their own positions. They must research the topic and beliefs that others have. They will also look...