Lesson Plan

Electoral College Pros/Cons and Alternatives

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

If every vote counts, why do we need the electoral college? Middle and high schoolers study the Constitutional precedent of the electoral college, as well as its place in historical and modern elections, with an engaging social studies lesson. After watching clips and reading articles focused on different points of view, they formulate their own opinion in a class debate and a letter to the editor.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Use the lesson during an election year or when focusing on the American voting process
  • Include the extension activity as a final assessment project or extra credit assignment
Classroom Considerations
  • Lesson is not based on any election in particular, but attached map includes all elections up to 2012
  • Pace the lesson according to the needs of your class, as the plan does not have strict instructions for implementation
Pros
  • Includes a stellar map of the amount of electoral votes allotted to each state
  • Links to all relevant videos
  • Assesses understanding in a structured debate and writing piece
  • Introduces counterarguments to each claim
Cons
  • None