Great Schools
My First Presidential Election
Register, establish a platform, make campaign speeches, and design campaign advertisements with a study of presidential elections. Young citizens engage in various activities that mimic the election process.
J. Paul Getty Trust
Portraits That Capture Character
One of the great things about technology is that it lets youngsters visit museums that may be many miles away. With this resource, middle and high schoolers can visit the portrait galleries at J. Paul Getty Museum, located in Los...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: All Eyes on the Iowa Caucus
Explore the primary elections through political cartoons. Three talking points guide deeper thinking as pupils analyze a cartoon, which depicts the 2008 campaigning in Iowa. Analysts identify caricatures, research why winning Iowa is...
Curated OER
The Great Debate
Students watch tapes of televised presidential debates dating from 1960. They analyze debates and participate in mock debates.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: All Eyes on Iowa
In this current events learning exercise, students analyze a political cartoon about the Iowa caucus and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Make a Theme Song
Students listen to music and the different messages it sends and then they make a theme song for a campaign. In this theme song lesson plan, students learn about propaganda and the importance of music.
Curated OER
Portraits That Capture Character
Students analyze two of Dorothea Lange's portraits and create their own portraits of classmates. In this portrait analysis lesson, students define portrait and discuss two images of Lange's. Students interview a classmate and use Lange's...
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...
Curated OER
Behind the Ad: The Process of Producing a Political Commerical
Students examine how advertisements are produced for political campaigns. In groups, they view various examples of different advertisements and create their own ad by completing the steps listed in the lesson plan. They share their ad...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Activity
In this vocabulary worksheet, students select the word from a drop down list that correctly completes a sentence, 20 total. Students may check their answers and score online.
Curated OER
Presidential Election 2004: Analyzing the Attack Ads
Students view and text the text of presidential election advertisements in 2004. Using the ads, they analyze them and check the validity of the statements made. They answer discuss questions for each ad and share them with the class.
Curated OER
Portraits That Capture Character
Students explore the definition of a portrait. In this portrait analysis lesson, students discuss two of Dorothea Lange's portraits and create their own portraits of their classmates.
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: Type of Commercial Backfire
Sometimes commercials backfire. The words, or image, of a candidate can be used against him or her to show that the candidate cannot be believed, has broken a promise, or has "flip-flopped" on an important issue. Here, you can view some...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: Living Room Candidate (Campaign Ads)
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...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Commercial Elections
This is a hands-on, technology-based U.S. Government lesson in which students will view a series of political television advertisements from the 1950s-2000. Students vote on which presidential candidate has the best commercial after each...
PBS
Pbs: The :30 Second Candidate
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.
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: The Living Room Candidate
Campaign ads changed the course of presidential elections when introduced in 1952. By examining ads from the elections of 1952 and 1988, students will understand the historical issues specific to that time period and themes common to...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1960 Kennedy vs. Nixon
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1960 election with the slogans "Kennedy: Leadership for the '60s" and "Nixon-Lodge: They Understand What Peace Demands". Includes video clips, information about the candidates, and...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1968 Nixon vs. Humphrey vs. Wallace
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1968 election that included the slogans "Vote Like Your Whole World Depended on It" and "Humphrey-Muskie, Two You Can Trust". Features video clips, information about the candidates, and...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1976 Carter vs. Ford
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1976 election that included the slogans "Leadership for a Change" and "He's Making Us Proud Again". Features video clips, information about the candidates, and election results.
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1984 Reagan vs. Mondale
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1984 election that included the slogans "America Is Back" and "Fighting for Your Future". Features video clips, information about the candidates, and election results.
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1988 Bush vs. Dukakis
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1988 election that included the slogans "Experienced Leadership for America's Future" and "The Best America Is Yet to Come". Features video clips, information about the candidates, and...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1992 Clinton vs. Bush vs. Perot
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1992 election that included the slogans "For People, For a Change" and "Commander-in-Chief". Includes video clips, information about the candidates, and election results.
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: 1996 Clinton vs. Dole
View presidential campaign advertisement from the 1996 election that included the slogans "Building a Bridge to the 21st Century" and A Better Man for a Better America". Features video clips, information about the candidates, and...