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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Covering the Campaign Trail: Progress or Chaos? (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Examine the methods used today for covering political campaigns. Includes comparing and contrasting the technologies used today with those of the past and evaluating the effectiveness of current methods of coverage.
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Website
Other

American Political Buttons: Election of 1944

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to finding an array of political buttons from the presidential campaign of 1944, there is a succint overview of the candidates and the tone of the campaign.
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Website
Other

Real Clear Politics: Polls: Election 2016 Presidential Polls

For Students 9th - 10th
Website with news and information on the polls of the 2016 presidential campaign.
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Unit Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Election: The Campaign

For Students 3rd - 5th
The race for the White House cannot take place without an official campaign. See how the Presidential campaign process works in the United States.
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Activity
Other

Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

For Students 9th - 10th
This 2001 report outlines issues related to soft money in American politics. Emphasis on definitions, sources of soft money and related congressional activity.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Our Place in the Politics of the Country

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the 15th amendment gave the freedom to vote to African Americans, little was done to enforce it. 90% of African-Americans living in the South were not able to vote, and in the North where voting was easier, the African American...
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Lesson Plan
Museum of the Moving Image

Museum of the Moving Image: Admaker, Obama vs. Mc Cain: "Fundamentals" (2008)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan to accompany two interactive activities. In the first activity, young scholars must convert a political ad for Barack Obama into one that promotes John McCain. The second activity has them create their own campaign ad. The...
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Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Campaign 2004: The Presidential Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive web page that contains an a slideshows of the 2004 presidential debates with analysis, video of the debates, and transcripts.
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Activity
CNN

Cnn: All Politics: Candidates

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the advertisement reads that the "free" two and a half minutes given to each candidate in the 1996 Presidential election will be soundbite free, in actuality the two and a half minute speeches are lengthy sound bites.
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Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Campaign Diaries

For Students 9th - 10th
NPR's site has a series called Campaign Diaries, which has accounts from passionate volunteers, from professional campaign workers, typical voters and election bystanders, people who organize campaign events and drive voters to the polls.
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Website
Other

History News Network: Why Is News So Negative These Days?

For Students 9th - 10th
This is actually the third installment in a five-part series of articles that looks at the question - "Where Have All the Voters Gone?." This particular article takes a look at the negativity in the news, but you may want to take a look...
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Article
University of Maryland

Department of Sociology: Polls Take Commanding Lead in Politics, Business

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Article presents a useful discussion on the basics of public opinion polling, problems with the polling process, sources of public opinion data and tips for consumers.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: So You Want to Be President?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This project-based learning project extends classroom learning with a variety of multimedia tools to conduct an engaging election campaign for the Presidency. Students form political parties, write a platform, and conduct a campaign for...
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Website
Other

John Kasich

For Students 9th - 10th
The official website for the John Kasich for president campaign 2016 offers news and issues about what this candidate stands for.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Andrew Jackson: Campaigns and Electiions

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll through this article to the Campaign and Election of 1832. Find out who ran against Andrew Jackson and what political parties were involved.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Pierce: Campaigns and Elections

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting account of the political conventions which had trouble choosing a candidate, and the lack of campaigning for president in the election of 1852. From the Miller Center.
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Website
Other

Center for Responsive Politics: Open Secrets

For Students 9th - 10th
Opensecrets.org is a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy.
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Website
Other

The Political Graveyard: Election of 1892

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from The Political Graveyard just lists the electoral votes each candidate received in the 1892 election. Links to brief biographical listings about each candidate and elector.
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Handout
Other

The Political Graveyard: Election of 1896

For Students 9th - 10th
This page from The Political Graveyard just lists the electoral votes each candidate received in the 1896 election. Links to brief biographical listings about each candidate and elector.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Presidential Politics: Lyndon B. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
Here, read about the 1964 election, through which Republicans planned to "unseat President Lyndon Johnson." Learn about the man nominated by the Republicans, Barry Goldwater, about Johnson's own feelings of inadequacy, and about the 1964...
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Website
US National Archives

National Archives: Running for Office

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of political cartoons by Clifford K. Berryman that illustrate the presidential campain trail. Most of these cartoons appeared on the front page of Washington newspapers from 1898 through 1948.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: How Technology Changed the Way Candidates Run for President?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan focuses on how technology has changed Presidential election campaigns. It includes reading articles and conducting research.
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Activity
BBC

Bbc News: How to Elect a Us President

For Students 9th - 10th
Electing a US President can be a political marathon. The British Broadcasting Company helps make this process easier to understand by explaining it in key stages.
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Website
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: Sectional Interests

For Students 9th - 10th
Website explores "sectionalism" and the political cartoons associated with the 1896 presidential election. Also, includes quotes from publications around the country.