Encyclopedia Britannica
Candidate Position History Research
Climate change. Assault weapons ban. Death penalty. And the list goes on. So many issues are part of a US presidential election that it can be hard to determine a candidate's position on a particular topic and whether their position has...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Candidate Reflection Essay
After writing about which of the 2020 presidential candidates the class has researched most closely represents their ideas, young political scientists take a 2020 Presidential Election Candidate Quiz to determine what candidate they in...
Curated OER
Choosing the Best Candidate
Who would win an election between Napoleon and Julius Caesar? Group your class up to analyze and discuss which of their given choices would make the best presidential candidate, given specific criteria. The potential candidate list...
Curated OER
The War of 1812
A good addition to a unit on the War of 1812, this slideshow details causes, specific battles, political contexts, and several campaigns of the war. Maps and pictures with broad topics allow teachers to bring their own discussion topics...
Curated OER
Take a Stand!
Here is a four-corner debate-style activity specifically geared to election year issues. Learners group themselves according to whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with statements that relate to elections...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Furnace of the Civil War
The eyes of an American History teacher (or Civil War buff) will open wide with this series of maps, which detail the campaigns and battles of the Civil War. Meant to supplement chapter 21 of The American Pageant, this presentation would...
Curated OER
The Media
Students identify various forms of media used in a political campaign and compare the different formats as vehicles for distributing political messages. They analyze the effectiveness of candidate's uses of different media.
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
Help a Candidate
Students identify methods used to promote presidential candidates, then create campaign promotional materials for a real or fictional candidate.
Curated OER
The Campaign of 1840: The Candidates
Students 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...
Curated OER
Stand and Deliver
Young scholars take a closer look at the presidential election of 2004. In this American politics instructional activity, students visit selected websites to learn about the 2004 campaign and active citizenship. Young scholars then...
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 young scholars determine the meaning of a political cartoon and predict the outcome of the 1860 election.
Curated OER
Running for Public Office
Students engage in the election process. In this public office lesson, students review the election and campaign process then design a campaign for their own selected office election using provided guidelines and links.
Curated OER
If I Were President...
Students practice their critical thinking skills by examining current issues in the campaign. They write an essay stating what they would to do solve problems if they were president. They share their solutions with the class.
Curated OER
US Presidents
Students work in small groups to analyze various presidential campaigns. In this presidential election lesson, students research election rules, candidates, and winners from 1900 to 2000. Students will create and present an oral report...
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
Making Informed Decisions
Students discuss various issues of importance in the 1998 congressional and gubernatorial elections, create comparison charts of their states' candidates' positions on these issues, and decide which candidate they would vote for based on...
Curated OER
Citizens of the Future
Young sociologists explore how local, state, and federal governments work. This very impressive and ambitious lesson requires pupils to contact government officials who represent them and their families. They research elections, and hold...
Curated OER
Voter Behavior
Transform your government students into informed voters with this straightforward worksheet. Five matching questions and five multiple choice questions test students' knowledge on voter behavior and political parties, and the format...
Curated OER
The Campaign: Issues and Strategies. What do you think?
Young scholars 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...
Curated OER
Your Vote Counts! Election Activity
Students participate in a simulated election. They serve as 'checkers', marking off names of those who vote, a ballot person hands out ballots, and ballot sorters and counters. Teacher rigs up a voting booth where voters mark ballots...
Curated OER
Candidate KWL
For this social studies worksheet, students use this KWL graphic organizer to identify what they know about a candidate, want to know and have learned about a candidate. This could be used for school, local or national elections.
Curated OER
Songs of the Times: American Concerns in 19th Century Campaigns
Students examine campaign songs from the 1840, 1848, and 1860 elections to explore the campaign strategies of 19th century political parties.
Curated OER
1960 Election
Learners examine the election of 1960. For this US politics lesson students listen to a teacher driven lecture, take notes, engage in a class discussion and write a response to what they have learned regarding the 1960's presidential...