Close Up Foundation
Teach the Vote
Why is voting important? A social studies unit presents a non-partisan approach to the importance of voting, to voting laws and procedures, and to resources that voters need to become informed voters.
Smithsonian Institution
The American Presidency: Grades 4-6
An interesting unit explains the American presidency from the campaign trail all the way to the role of the president. Historians participate in discussions, create posters, conduct Internet research, and more to gain an understanding of...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Get out the Vote Campaign
While some of your students may be too young to vote, they can get involved in the election process by creating a nonpartisan campaign encouraging voter registration. After researching how to register to vote, class members design PSAs,...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Electing a President
Students brainstorm and list qualities that they would look for in a president; students rank qualities in order of importance.
Curated OER
The Campaign: Issues and Strategies. What do you think?
Students research a candidate in an election and discuss how the media portrays that candidate and how the media influences voters. In this candidate lesson plan, students also distinguish fact from opinion, look at political cartoons,...
Curated OER
Election 2000
Seventh graders explore issues facing the potential leader of our country, form opinions about the candidates representing the two major political parties, research election material and choose candidates, conduct debates, and vote in...
Curated OER
The Voting Game
Students examine and discuss the Canadian electoral process. They conduct a simulation of the electoral process, with students running as candidates, holding a convention, campaigning, and voting for Prime Minister of the Day.
Curated OER
Campaign Trail Reports
In this Presidential Election 2008 worksheet, students research the listed candidates and respond to 4 questions about the candidates. Students present their findings to their classmates.
Curated OER
Elect Me! Creating a Campaign Platform and Video Commercial
Students conduct political campaigns. In this campaign investigation lesson, students research political parties and political offices. Students choose an office to run for and create election videos that incorporate propaganda techniques.
Curated OER
Vote for Me!
Tenth graders analyze voter trends in South Carolina and discover techniques canddidates and their parties use to convince us to vote their way. They are able to locate voting statistics for their county; compare the number of...
Curated OER
Rocking the Vote
Students explore how a presidential candidate can win the popular vote but not receive enough electoral votes to win the election. They analyze various regions' voting trends, explore how these trends reflect the outcome of the 2004...
Curated OER
The Election Process
Students examine how Electoral College works, compare and contrast candidates or issues, and discuss importance of becoming registered, active voting individuals.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Campaign Finance Reform and Public Opinion
Learners discuss the issue of finance reform in political campaigns. Using the internet, they identify the positives and negatives of finance reform and research the problems associated with campaign fund-raising. They share their...
Curated OER
Age of Jackson
Learners work on political campaigns. For this campaign history lesson, students study the American presidential elections of 1824 and 1828. Learners research primary and secondary sources to learn about the campaigns. Students then...
Curated OER
2002 City of Newark Mayoral Campaign
Learners research community issues and develop a consensus of issues they think the next mayor should address and study the candidates' positions they have chosen to track.
Curated OER
Understanding the Election of 1800 and the Twelfth Amendment
Eleventh graders examine the election of 1800. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders summarize the events that made the election controversial. Students advocate for a candidate during a short role playing...
Curated OER
Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Simulation
Students research the Supreme Court judicial selection process while role playing. They examine the political nature of the process and discuss merits of Supreme Court nominees.
Curated OER
Voting Isn't Enough
Students compare and contrast their perceptions of politicians and leaders, analyze the consequences of negative public perceptions of politicians, and develop solutions to the problems caused by negative attitudes toward politics.
Curated OER
Farmers, the Populist Party, and Mississippi (1870-1900)
Students determine the cause and effect of a historical event. They draw conclusions about statistical data and maps and compose a campaign speech for a Populist candidate. They design a political poster and badge for the Populist Party.
Curated OER
Hafta Do NAFTA?
Students examine the benefits and problems of U.S. participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement. In two groups, students represent the campaign team for a presidential candidate, one for and one against NAFTA, and research...
Curated OER
The Power of Words: Social Justice Words
Students role-play the position of a presidential candidate. They create their platform to include social justice programs and present it to the class. They answer questions to end the lesson.
Curated OER
The Cold War and Development of Post-War America
Young scholars view examples of political advertisements during the years of 1952 through 1964. After viewing, they discuss how the Cold War and the threat of Communism affected the development of the United States. They compare the Cold...