Objectives
Students will understand the process of presidential elections, become aware of the 2008 candidates as well as the issues which will shape the future of our country’s leadership.
Standards
McRel Civics Standard #9: Understands the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain values, beliefs, and principles of American constitutional democracy.
McRel Civics Standard #20: Understands the roles of political parties, campaigns, elections, and associations and groups in American politics.
Materials
Videotaped “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Kids’ Primary”
Television and VCR
Map of the United States
Chalkboard and chalk or whiteboard and markers
Research materials, as in a library
Computer(s) with Internet access for student and teacher use.
Pens, pencils, paper and a folder for each student to use in the creation of a report
Prior to Viewing the Program:
•Write the word POLITICS on the white board and discuss its meaning with the class. Allow students to talk about politics as it relates to popularity in school as well as in government.
•Discuss how we select our leaders in the United States (by voting). If every person gets only one vote, why is that one vote so important?
•Ask students about the upcoming 2008 Presidential election, and allow the class to offer their comments on what they have seen and heard about the process and candidates through the media.
•Poll students about the meaning of the following words: caucus, primary, electoral college, popular vote, and delegates. Write these on the white board and get some suggestions from students prior to viewing the episode.
•Tell the class that they will be seeing a Nick News program about the election process, and they are to watch the program in its entirety to see if they can name at least 3 candidates in the 2008 Presidential race, at least three important issues, and be able to outline the 2008 election process for President. Show the program in its entirety, then discuss the following:
•Ask the students: Why should you care about the 2008 Presidential election? How will it affect you? Name some ways that it might affect your life (school, freedom, future, family).
•What are some of the issues that are important in this Presidential election? (illegal immigration, gun control, Iraq, economy, terrorism, education, health care, environment, nuclear weapons, energy, world peace) Why is it important to see both sides of some of the issues before deciding on a candidate?
•What is the electoral college? Why was the idea of electoral voting created by our founding fathers? What were the founding fathers afraid of? Do you think this should be changed or eliminated? What determines the number of electoral votes for each state?(number of members of Congress) Look at the US map. Why do you suppose some states have more electoral votes than others? (larger states have more Congressmen, therefore more electoral votes) Why do you suppose the Presidential candidates spend most of their time and money to campaign in the largest states? How many electoral votes does it take for a candidate to become the President? (270)
•What are the three qualifications that a candidate for President must meet in order to run for the Presidency according to the Constitution? (born in the USA, must have lived in the USA for 14 years, must be 35 years old) What are some other qualifications that a candidate might need to run for the Presidency? (must have lots of money, must have lots of energy, must be strong and able to take lots of pressure, must be highly motivated to succeed in politics, must be a good thinker/debater, must be able to make decisions and be a good public speaker, etc.)
•What is the primary process designed to do that makes it different from an election? (it just narrows the list of candidates) What does a caucus do? (this is a big group of people who meet and vote for a candidate). A caucus is also designed to narrow the candidate field.
•What is the job of a delegate? (vote at conventions to choose candidates for an election)
•Why is it so important that a candidate advertise him/herself as if they were a product? Do you think it would be difficult to be under the watchful eye of the camera and press at all times?
•Who are the Democratic Party’s candidates for President?
•Who are the Republican Party’s candidates for President?
•How old must you be in order to vote? (18) What does it mean that voting is your “right”? Why is it important to vote? Activity
Using the information gathered from the “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: The Kids Primary" episode, the web and library resources, each student will create a three part essay entitled "Election 2008 and My Candidate for President.” This essay will contain the following elements:
1. A minimal three paragraph report describing the primary and caucus process, discussing why delegates are important, and a comparison of the electoral college and the popular vote process.
2. A minimal three paragraph essay on one candidate of the student’s choice and his/her stand on at least three important national issues as discussed following the episode.
3. A one paragraph essay as to why the 2008 election is especially important. This three part essay/report will be bound in a folder and shared with the class. Assessment
Points, Outcome and Measure:
4-5: The student shows a great deal of interest in the subject and participates actively in the class discussions about the 2008 Presidential election process. The student creates a three part essay/report as described in the activity above. This project has all three parts completed, and the student shares it with the class.
2-3: The student shows a limited amount of interest in the subject and participates marginally in the class discussions about the 2008 Presidential election process. The student creates a project as described in the activity above, but offers less than the three required parts (or less than the minimal requirement amounts listed above for each section of the written project). The student does not present this report in class.
0-1: The student shows little or no interest in the subject and participates reluctantly in the discussions on the 2008 Presidential election process. The student makes a minimal attempt or shows no effort at all to create the three part essay/report based on the activity described above. There is no report to be shared in class. Additional Activities
1.Invite the local registrar to discuss the voting machines and the local precinct’s election day process with the class.
2.Create a collage of magazine, newspaper pictures of a candidate or pictures of one or more issues that are important to the 2008 Presidential elections.
3. Stage a student debate, where students portray the specific Presidential candidates of their choice.
Sandy Riddell
Greenwood Elementary School
10960 Greenwood Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23059
