decision2000

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DECISION 2000 UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROJECT

Preparation: Group discussion of steps in registering to vote. Who are the candidates? Why should you vote?

Procedure:

Political Vocabulary:
Students will be given a list of political vocabulary words and definitions for each word.

Students will use desktop publishing software to create a crossword puzzle using at least 25 of the words/definitions. Puzzles will be printed and shared with U. S. Government teachers for classroom use.

Registering to Vote:
Invite the local voter registrar as a guest speaker to discuss: a) who may register to vote and b) methods of voter registration in Virginia.

After obtaining State Voter Registration forms from the local Voter Registrar, students will visit each classroom and encourage those students elligible and who have not done so to complete a registration form. Registration forms will be returned to the Voter Registrar before the registration deadline.

Who are the Candidates?
In small groups, students will use the Internet to research the main candidates for President and Vice-President.

Students will use research results to create a candidate biography in one of the following modes:

a) desktop presentation, b) web page, c) brochure OR d) newsletter

What are the issues?
Students will bring in news articles on a weekly basis covering the issues and the candidates views or positions. Whole class oral discussion of the articles. Articles will be displayed in classroom for reference.

Campaign Ads:
The whole class will view videos of various campaign ads. Class discussion of effects of negative ads.

Use desktop publishing software to create campaign posters for all candidates. Use posters in hallways for "mock" election.

AND Write and record a radio campaign ad OR

Write and use desktop presentation software to create a 30-second television campaign ad.

The Ballot:
After reviewing a sample presidential ballot, students will use desktop publishing software to create an election ballot for the school-wide "mock" election.

Class will vote for the ballot to be used for the election.

Use copying machine to produce enough ballots for the number of registered voters.

The Electoral College:
Working in small groups, students will use the Internet or other current reference sources to locate the number of electoral votes for each state.

Students will use electronic spreadsheet software to create a spreadsheet listing each state and the number of electoral votes. This spreadsheet will be saved for use after the actual election.

Stage a Mock Election:
The class will assign each class as a specific state for Electoral College purposes. Students will modify their Electoral College spreadsheet with this information.

On Election Day, students will go to each class, distribute ballots and have students return the ballots to the state ballot box.

The class will count the ballots by class (state). A student recorder will draw a graph on the chalkboard and record results by class. Students will then modify their Electoral College spreadsheet showing popular vote by class (state).

Using the Electoral College spreadsheet, students will add columns for each candidate to record the allocation of electoral votes received. This data will be used to create a pie chart displaying Electoral College results.

After the Vote:
The day after the election, students will create another electronic spreadsheet using the Electoral College data. Students will use the morning newspaper or the Internet to record the national election results. Create a pie chart of the results.

Students should compare the "mock" election results with the actual election results. Class discussion of how these compare and why?

Assessment:

Students will be graded on each product produced during the unit. Students will be asked to organize the products into a unit portfolio. The portfolio will be graded using the teacher designed rubric furnished.

Post-Lesson Class Follow-Up:

Group discussion of election results. Analyze why the students think voters made their decision. What became the major issue of the campaign?

Portfolio Due Date: Friday following elections.

Web Sites:

Web White & Blue
http://www.webwhiteblue.org/

Elections USA
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/6228/pres2000/index.html

The Center for Responsive Politics
http://www.opensecrets.org/2000elect/index/AllCands.htm

ABC News Politics
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/

Vote Net
http://www.votenet.com/

CNN Election News
http://cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/

Washington Post Election Coverage
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/elections/2000/

Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/