The United States Presidential Election Process

A Thematic Unit

OverviewThe United States is currently participating in the presidential primary and

election process. As a result of this, it is appropriate to integrate a unit on

this procedure in order to help students understand the terminology and

course of action they are witnessing on a daily basis in the media.

Additionally, by focusing on various aspects of the campaign and election

process, we are able to make connections across content areas to reinforce

other concepts.

Geography:

Students will be participating in an activity that helps them understand the

primary election process by focusing on Super Tuesday and reinforce

geographical skills by mapping out the campaign trail.

Art:

Students will be developing basic acting skills by assuming roles in the

process of participating in a mock election. This activity also reinforces the

processes involved in a presidential election and helps students gain

understanding of the different roles and supplementary materials required

within the election process. Writing skills are also reinforced.

Language Arts:

During the array of activities students will be utilizing a variety of media to

incorporate the various elements of a presidential campaign. They will

become familiar with the use of slogans and propaganda and begin to

understand the various ways in which language is used. There are also

writing assignments to reinforce and develop skills.

Math:

Students will be utilizing graphing skills during activities to reinforce NCTM

content standard Data Analysis and Probability.

Tennessee Frameworks

I. Geography:

Geography enables the students to see, understand and appreciate the web

of relationships between people, places, and environments. Students will use

the knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts within the six essential

elements of geography: world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical

systems, human systems, environment and society, and the uses of

geography.

3.01 Understand how to use maps, globes, and other geographic

representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report

information from a spatial perspective.

3.02 Recognize the interaction between human and physical systems

around the world.

3.03 Demonstrate how to identify and locate major physical and

political features on globes and maps.

II. Art:

2.1 Explore sensory and emotional experiences to create a character.

2.2 Use imagination to form and express thought, feeling and

character.

2.3 Create characters to develop scenarios in individual and group

settings.

2.4 Examine improvisational skills and techniques in creating a

character.

2.5 Explore movement to express feeling and characterization.

2.6 Utilize the voice to express feeling and characterization.

3.1.1  Use a variety of tools and materials to create a work of art.

3.1.2  Use a variety of techniques and processes to produce original

works of art that reflect personal experiences, imagination, and

observations.

3.1.3  Use tools and materials in a safe and responsible manner.

3.2.2 Use the elements and principles of art to communicate ideas.

3.3.1  Explore and understand content in works of art by others.

3.4.2  Discuss how art, history, and culture influence each other.

III. Social Studies

3. Identify government officials and explain how they are chosen.

3.4.02 Describe the Constitution of the United States and the

Tennessee State Constitution in principle and practice.

4.01 Discuss the structure and purposes of governance.

IV. English/Language Arts:

The student will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word

recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and

appreciation of print and non-print text.

3.1.10 Introduce informational skills to facilitate learning.

a. Use outside resources to access information (e.g., family and

community).

b. Use media sources to access information (e.g., online catalog,

non-fiction books, encyclopedias, CD-ROM references, Internet).

c. Use text referenced material (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus,

encyclopedia, magazines, and newspapers).

d. Gather and record information on a topic.

V. Math:

The student will develop number and operation sense needed to represent

numbers and number relationships verbally, symbolically, and graphically

and to compute fluently and make reasonable estimates in problem solving.

Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships

among numbers, and number systems.

Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one

another.

Solve problems, compute fluently, and make reasonable estimates.

o 3.1.spi.10. solve real-world problems using addition or

subtraction of whole numbers;

o 3.1.tpi.2. create number sentences that describe real-world

situations involving addition and subtraction

Text Books

Social Studies:

Beyer, B. K., Craven, J., McFarland, M. A., and Parker, W. C. (1990). Regions

near and Far: The world around us. MacMillan Publishing Company.

New York.

Kahney, M. (1988). Neighborhoods and communities. Scott, Foresman and

Company. Illinois.

Mathematics:

Bitter, G. (1987). Mathematics. McGraw-Hill. New York.

Trade BooksTrade Book Editorial Synopsis

Enhances comprehension and vocabulary skills for this Stan and Jan Berenstain book about running for public office.

Arthur's essay wins a contest and he has to read it to the President in a special ceremony at the White House.

A multicultural cast of children imagines what it would be like to run for president. The entertaining yet informative text is a good conversation starter for discussions on the election process. A note about this process accompanies the story.

Of mixed race and cultures, Barack Obama struggled for years with his identity and place in society. Having found his niche in public service, he has made history as the fifth African American U.S. senator ever to be elected. Now “the skinny kid” continues his political journey and strives to become the nation’s first black president. From Hawaii to Chicago to Washington, D.C., Senator Obama’s life has been interesting and inspiring.

Trade Book Editorial SynopsisThere have been a lot of “firsts” in the life of Hillary Rodham Clinton . . . at Wellesley, she was the first student to give the class commencement address; in 2000 she became the first woman senator from New York; and she is the first former first lady to run for president. Endlessly interesting, often polarizing, Hillary Clinton has participated in most of the major events in American history since the 1960s. With photos and full-color illustrations, this is the perfect introduction for beginning readers to this fascinating woman. The solid text takes a chronological approach, beginning with the McCain family's long service to the U.S., which goes back to the presidency of George Washington. Although not sensationalized, the writing gives readers a feel for what his war experience must have been like. Black-and-white and color photos and an attractive layout complement the text. Chronology appended.

Using a campaign for mayor as an example, Christelow offers some background history on voting rights; explains the voting process; and answers questions about registration, volunteering, fund-raising, and recounting ballots. Appendixes offer a time line, a discussion of political parties, and Internet resources.

As this election season stretches endlessly ahead, students may have questions about the process. In Running for Office, the author introduces various aspects of campaigning and voting--among them, primary and general elections, fund raising, and voting procedures. Sidebars provide extra tidbits, such as explanations of the two houses of government. Especially useful is the extensive back matter, which will help kids get involved. In The President's Work, Landau covers myriad responsibilities of the presidency, ranging from working with Congress to serving as leader of the free world.

Trade Book Editorial SynopsisThe author explains the presidential election process, including its history, the two-party system, third parties, PACs, election fraud, also-rans, and more. The author emphasizes not only the right but also the responsibility to vote and indicates ways that even pre-voters can get involved. An appealing resource for units on the U.S. government or civics.

From the embarrassment of skinny-dipping John Quincy Adams to the mischievous adventure of Theodore Roosevelt's pony, Judith St. George shares the backroom facts, the spitfire comments, and the comical anecdotes that have been part and parcel of America's White House. Presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton.

Rookie Readers actively engage young readers, encouraging language development, building fluency, and promoting independent reading. By targeting a skill, like being able to write and speak consonants, young readers are building fundamental reading skills with the help of fun, lively, colorfully illustrated stories. Explains the importance of voting, different methods of voting, and how voting helps us take part in our government.

Trade Book Editorial SynopsisGetting the Inside Scoop on Elections introduces elementary school students to political processes, campaign trails, the office of President, and political candidates in a way they can easily understand. Students explore the United States presidential election process by creating campaign ads, participating in poll tracking, and many more fun activities.

Internet Sources

1. http://www.johnmccain.com/ John McCain’s official presidential campaign website.

2. http://www.barackobama.com/ Barack Obama’s official presidential campaign website.

3. http://www.hillaryclinton.com/ Hillary Clinton’s official presidential campaign website.

4. http://www.kidsvotingusa.org/ A national leader in civic education, Kids Voting USA® (KVUSA) gets

students involved and ready to be educated, engaged citizens.  Students learn about democracy through a combination of classroom activities, an authentic voting experience and family dialogue.

5. http://pbskids.org/democracy/educators/whyvote.html Students will learn that towns include people whose jobs contribute to

the quality of community life. Students will use the online activity "How Does Government Affect Me?" as a springboard to discuss the importance of voting. The lesson will culminate with the creation of "Please Vote" bookmarks, a public awareness campaign

6. http://pbskids.org/democracy/mygovt/index.html Students click through a series of icons in a town to see how

government affects their daily lives.

7. http://www.pocanticohills.org/election/activities.htm This website provides educational games and activities that relate to

the Presidential election. It includes a magic election quiz, and several word searches.

8. www.scholastic.com This website offers Scholastic news online with a special link related to

Election 2008.

9. www.clerkkids.house.gov This website gives children the opportunity to research information

about Congress, the federal government, and lawmaking. If also has links for games and lesson plans for instructors.

10. http://www.apples4theteacher.com/socialstud.html#uspresidents President activities for elementary students

Introductory ActivityInitiate a discussion about pictures and cartoons that the students have seen

that are related to the Presidential Campaign. Place figures of various zoo

animals on a table and ask the students to point out two animals that they

think might symbolize the Republican and Democratic parties.

Show the students two pictures. Have them to interpret the meanings of the

elephant and the donkey in the first picture based on their personal

perspective. Ask them to describe what they think the artist might have

wanted us to think.

Read the excerpt from The Donkey and The Elephant: “The now-famous

Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's

1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass and Jackson

decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign

posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in

newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

Nast invented another famous symbol—the Republican elephant. In a

cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey

clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those

animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took

for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

Democrats today are thought to believe that the donkey is smart and brave,

while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.”

www.morepartyanimals.com/elephant_and_donkey.php

Have the students to create their own political cartoon using the elephant

and the donkey and indicate which animal symbolizes each party.

Project – The Importance of CampaigningStudents will be introduced to campaign slogans and tactics. They will

read information and discuss why campaigning is important to the election

process. Students will be assigned to groups with a specific campaign

tactic and will become ‘experts’ on why that tactic is effective or ineffective

for candidates in the election process.

Culminating Activity – Mock Election

Students will participate in a mock election. Each student will write one-

page paper on why they feel they would be the best “Mayor for a Day.” All

papers will be posted in the classroom and the class will vote for the

candidate they feel would be best (this preliminary vote will be calculated

in the graphing project early in the unit.) The three top candidates will be

selected to participate in the mock election process.

All students in the class will sign up for different jobs in the election

(campaign manager, publicity, assistant speech writer, etc.) and help

prepare each candidate for the campaign speech to be delivered to the

general assembly. Students can hand out signs or buttons and post

campaign slogans in preparation. After the speeches have been delivered,

all students will vote on who they think would make the best Mayor for a

Day. The winner of the public vote will spend the day shadowing the City

Mayor.

Assessment – Participation will be monitored throughout. Students will also

document their experience in journal format to be turned in at the closure of

the project.

Assessments

Students will be assessed at the close of each assignment. For example,

they will be creating a political cartoon, they will be assessed on their

knowledge of campaign tactics, and they will be assessed through a map

quiz. At the close of the culminating activity, the students will be turning in a

journal that they will have been contributing to throughout the entire

thematic unit.