Engaging Election Teaching Activities

The 2016 Presidential Election is only eight days away! November 8th is the big day where the American public will decide who our next fearless leader will be. To make your life easier, I've created many engaging election activities that you can use in your secondary classroom, no matter what subject you teach! Just take a look below and follow the links to get more information for each product.

Lesson #1: 2016 Mock Election and Presidential Scavenger Hunt. This is two-day activity that you can easily  implement the day before the election and election day. Students will research the Presidential candidates and participate in a Mock election, counting electoral votes and popular votes. The night of the election students will complete an Electoral College Map and the next day compare the class election results with the actual election results.

Lesson #2: FREE Presidential Debate Activity: Your secondary students can use this easy chart when watching the 2016 Presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Lesson #3: Electoral College Simulation: This is an engaging activity simulates a mock Presidential election. Students will be able to really “see” how the Electoral College works and have fun in the process. All teacher preparation and student instructions are included.

Lesson #4: Electoral College Lecture: In this engaging lecture and activity students will be able to discuss the Electoral College and different reform plans suggested. First they will complete a lecture-notes template while reviewing the important details of the history and function of the Electoral College in the creative power point.

Lesson #5: Voting & Voting Behavior Presentation and Reading Activity: This creative product for the secondary civics/U.S. Government classroom includes everything you need to teach about voting and voting behavior. Topics include: history of voting rights, voting amendments, voting requirements, motor voter law, who votes, why do some choose not to vote, how to vote. It also includes a debate activity , "Philosophical Chairs" and a fun review activity, "Who Can Participate".

Lesson #6: Democrats v Republicans - What are the Differences? This purchase includes a 5-page reading about the differences between the two major political parties; the Democrats and the Republicans. It reviews the different ideologies in the following issues; the economy, taxes, social issues, foreign policy & national security, entitlements, the environment and government spending. As the students read the handout, they complete a corresponding chart and review questions.

                                                     

Lesson #7: Political Spectrum Quiz: At the end of this activity students will know where they fall on the political spectrum – liberal or conservative. Students will review 15 controversial political issues related to education, fiscal policy, immigration, health care, foreign affairs, etc. After the teacher explains each issue (teacher guide is included) students will choose a number that correlates to either a conservative view or liberal view. At the end of the quiz, students count up their points to determine where they are located on the political spectrum. A wrap-up activity is included where students will watch a film clip: “American Political Spectrum” and have a class discussion about what they learned. In addition, an extra political survey worksheet is included. Students take a political quiz on the internet and then answer a series of questions related to the political spectrum. Both activities are fun and engaging. This activity can be used year after year.

    

I hope you find these resources useful! 

Happy Teaching!