Facing History and Ourselves
The Nazi Party Platform
Not all party platforms stay democratic. A resource covers many political issues in Germany during the time of World War II, and teaches pupils about the Nazi party platform and what went wrong. Individuals participate in a warm-up...
Carolina K-12
Political Parties and Conventions
The two major parties polarize many in America today, but it doesn't have to be that way in the classroom! Teach learners about political party platforms and modern campaigns with a mock political convention. After watching a PowerPoint...
Curated OER
Homemade Political Parties
Use this 5-day lesson to clarify the platforms of the two major parties, comparing and contrasting against students' beliefs. Begin by looking at unlabeled summaries of both party platforms, having learners identify most with one. Groups...
Carolina K-12
Are You a Democrat or a Republican? Are You Really?
Have new or soon-to-be voters examine different political parties and their platforms as they figure out which one aligns most with their beliefs. After taking a few online quizzes, students split into pairs to discuss and then in larger...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Beyond a Two-Party System
Young political scientists go beyond the two-party system and research third-party candidates running in the 2020 US Presidential election. Groups present background information about the candidate, the party's platform points, and a...
Fluence Learning
Writing About Informational Text: Political Parties
To demonstrate their ability to craft an analysis of informational text, class members read excerpts from James Madison's "The Federalist No. 10," from George Washington's Farewell Address, and from Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural...
Curated OER
Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Ninth graders examine the origins and functions of political parties. In this American Government lesson, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national election. Students...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Winner-Take-All: The Two-Party System
Two's company, three's a crowd. High school historians learn about the Electoral College, a two-party, winner-take-all voting system in the United States. The lesson explains the pros and cons of the two-party system, roadblocks for...
Curated OER
Analyzing Political Party Platforms, 1840-1860
Students deduce from reading political party platforms from the 1840s-1860s which party and what year the platform is from. They analyze the foundations and political philosophies underlying the platforms and the parties.
Curated OER
The First American Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans: The Platforms They Never Had
Students investigate the beginnings of the political party system in the US. They determine the key positions of both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. They compare the views of the early political parties with those of today.
Curated OER
Political Movements: Political parties
Students list current federal parliamentary parties, consider the role of political parties, practice party based representation, state the relationship between parties, elections and Australian policy, and define specific parliamentary...
Curated OER
The Constitution and Our Republic: Political Parties and the Election Process
Students discuss the role of political parties in the election process. In this election process activity, students work in groups to examine the major functions of political parties and the role political parties play in the election...
Curated OER
Online Lesson Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Students explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, students design an ad campaign...
Curated OER
Political Movement: Political Parties
Students explore politics by researching Australian government law. In this political parties lesson, students define the different active parties in Australia and their roles within the country. Students complete a word bank activity...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Early Political Parties
Students examine the platforms of early political parties in the United States. In this political parties activity, students discover details regarding the attributes and ideals of the federalists and the democratic-republicans. Students...
Center for History Education
Lincoln and the Republicans: The Cause of the War?
In today's political rhetoric, many forget the pivotal role the Republican Party played in the causes of the Civil War. The party's formation was the final straw for Southerners who saw the enslavement of people of African descent a...
Curated OER
Party Like It's 1992 or '84 or '76 or '68!
Pupils explore, analyze and study how political party platforms have changed over time. They create a party platform time line by researching Republican and Democratic Party stances on various issues during the last few decades.
Curated OER
Political Party Manifesto
In this political party manifesto worksheet, students work collaboratively to respond to 5 short answer questions regarding party platforms and then write their own manifesto speech.
Curated OER
Progression of Political Movements
High schoolers examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson, they share their information with the class...
Curated OER
It's My Party
Students compare/contrast the Republican and Democratic platforms using Venn diagrams, then read and discuss, "The Conventions Are Over. The Party's Just Starting." students then participate in a mock press conference and write editorial...
Curated OER
American Political Culture
Examine American political culture with your scholars using this self-assessment instructional activity. Individuals rate a list of 14 values from highest to lowest, including ideas such as financial security, right to private property,...
iCivics
Mock Election
Here is an excellent resource in which class members host a mock election for a candidate and policy that will be implemented into your very own classroom. Progressing from primaries, through the campaign trail, and finally to the mock...
Curated OER
1932 Germany Party Platforms
Students examine party platforms. In this political platforms lesson, students discover details about the state of Germany in the 1930's. Students write their own political platforms and compare them to the platforms of the 1932 German...
National First Ladies' Library
Politics! Politics! The Emergence of Political Parties in the U.S.
High schoolers are split into six small groups which focus on one of six websites, that tell the story of the emergence of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties at the end of the 18th century. They compile a chronological list...