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Here you will find resources for teachers to plan lessons based on politics, government, and history of elections. The links are divided by grade level and contain the information designed by other school administrators across the country.

All Grades

Know Your Local Government - The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the local government structure and the people in the various power positions. They will see day to day activities that directly affects their lives, and ways people can influence the actions of these people in power.

Voting Simulation - The purpose of this lesson is to help students become aware of the rights and responsibilities of voting.

 

The US Constitution - Many students feel the U.S. Constitution has no relevance on their lives. This is a lesson on the importance it carries.

Grades 2-4

Community Government - The learner will identify the mayor/city council (city manager) form of government as the leadership of community government.

Candidate Debate - To stimulate a political debate based upon issues relevant to third to fifth graders, their parents, and the community. To introduce and develop the concept that an informed voter uses his/her voting power to support issues that are important to him/her.

Grades 5-8

We The People - Why do we need a government? Lesson introduces the basic concept of the "natural rights" philosophy. After the students recognize a need for government and rules, the students will be asked to think about the benefits and problems of living in a "state of nature" where there are no laws or government.

Powers of Government - For students to recognize and explain the differences between the state and federal powers of government.

Impact of Government on the Individual - The purpose to this activity, used during the early part of the school year in a required secondary government class, is to begin the process of helping students visualize the government of the United States as a very important part of their everyday existence--- a part which they can impact.

 

Grades 9-12

How Does a Bill Become a Law? - This lesson was designed as an introduction to Congress by showing one function they perform (how a bill becomes a law).

Mock Congress - Many students do not understand the process of lawmaking. Neither do they know the basis of these laws. where do laws come from? The intricacies of law-making and the length of time it involves are not clearly understood.

Presidential Campaign Game - Many people in the United States have very little knowledge concerning the complexity of campaigning for a political office, especially the complexity for campaigning for the office of President of the United States. Very little is known by the average American citizen about the complex organization needed to help a candidate win the election in a Presidential campaign.

The Political Debate as a Means of Informing the Voters During a Presidential Election Year - The purpose of this activity is to help students understand the nature of the two-party system in American politics and the importance it serves in transferring the public will into political action.

 

More lesson plans can be found at :WWW.EDUREF.ORG