Setting Up the Activity in Your Classroom:
Depending on the grade level and maturity level of each class,
activities can be facilitated as independent work, collaborative
group work, or whole class instruction. For example, the younger
students engage in collaborative group work in creating their
ballot box while their class discussions work as whole class instruction.
Background information for grades four and up can be printed for
students to read individually, in class, or as homework while
online research should be conducted individually or in pairs.
If a computer is available for each student, guide students to the activities either through printed URLs on handouts or the board.
If you are working in a lab, set up the computer to be on the desired Web site as students walk into class. If there are fewer computers than students, group the students by reading level. Assign each student a role: a "driver" who navigates the Web, a timer who keeps the group on task, and a note taker. If there are more than three students per computer, you can add roles like a team leader, a team reporter, etc.
Additionally, if classrooms are not available, articles can be printed for students and handed out in class.
You may also want to create a special display for your classroom in recognition of the ongoing election process. Check out our Recommended Booklist for suggested print materials.
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Additional Resources:
Grolier Online's The American Presidency
http://ap.grolier.com/
Explore the U.S. presidency through background profiles, history
of elections, facts, scandals, and more with articles, video,
and sound clips.
Library of Congress: Elections �The American Way
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/election/home.html
The Library of Congress presents articles covering a variety of topics from the candidates to election process and issues. The targeted readings ask students questions so they can see how the voting process has changed over time.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Choose between grades K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12
to get age-appropriate articles on a variety of topics. Students
can read about government on the neighborhood level to the national
level and play games both online and off. There is also a glossary
for words used on the site.
Newseum: Every Four Years
http://www.newseum.org/everyfouryears/index.htm
This Newseum exhibit takes a look at how the news has covered elections in the past 100 years.
The White House: Presidents of the United States
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/Presidents/
Students can research Presidents by name or by time served in office. Students can also take a virtual tour of the White House as well as the history, traditions, art, and more.
Democracy @ Work
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/government/
Students can explore a variety of topics from the news to history as well as take part in several presidential activities including the �You're the President� game and an inauguration time line.
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Graphic Organizer:
Reading Comprehension: KWL: Grades 4–8
This Reading Comprehension: KWL (PDF) helps students to organize information they gather as they go through the election activity. Students are also encouraged to ask questions as a way to become active participants in their learning.
Source:
The
Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers by Jennifer
Jacobson and Dottie Raymer; illustrated by Amy Redmond
Venn Diagram: Grades 6–8
This Venn
Diagram (PDF) allows students to compare and contrast presidential
candidates.
Source:
Graphic Organizers by Karen Bromley, Linda Irwin-De Vitis, and Marcia Modlo
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