Website Evaluators Gena M. Arriola – Loyola Marymount University, California Website Reviewer and Compiler Randall J. Heeres - Northern Michigan Christian High School, Michigan Site Ratings 1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Good 4 = Excellent President '96
Cissy Dowdy – Southside High School, Arkansas
Rachel Haftel Gilbert – Abington High School, Pennsylvania
Linda Rials – Lampasas High School, Texas
Patricia Penrose – Nogales High School, California
Reviewers praised this site as an
interesting interactive means to involve classrooms in presidential elections through a simulation. A teacher's guide assists educators in making the simulation educationally effective. Students, too, will enjoy learning through such
participation or observations of the game in 2000, for which information "is currently being gathered." Loaded with graphics, this useful site will help students grasp campaigns and elections.
National Election Studies Federal Election Commission
Overall Rating: 4
An excellent site that is "well-organized" and provides helpful links, this URL gives technical and detailed information about various factors influencing election outcomes, such as
education, wealth, age, and occupation, and about electoral systems around the world. Teachers of government and modern world history will identify possibilities for projects and lessons. Students may find the level of information
rather daunting, but surely "a good resource." Helpful and easy to use, this site "offers a lot of information."
Overall Rating: 4
This site earned mixed reviews; it offers
considerable content about parties, elections, PACs, campaign finances, and presidential races -- details, which one reviewer found "excellent" and another called "more than the average teacher or student would need."
Teachers will need to develop lesson plans from the materials that the site offers, but a creative educator will see numerous opportunities, particularly related to following presidential elections. Students will likely find the lack of
graphics disturbing, but they may also like using the available information to learn about candidates and election and to predict outcomes of races. The site loads and navigates easily, and is 'relevant" and "intriguing"
in the words of one reviewer. FEC- The non-partisan Federal Candidate Campaign Money Page
Overall Rating: 3
"Jumbled with lots of information," this site contains campaign finance information in
a technical and detailed manner. Still, reviewers thought the information could generate class discussions and lesson plans on the role of money in elections. Teachers may not find the details vital to their classroom needs,
however, and students may think the site "a bit too challenging" and "overwhelming." This site earns a good rating because of its potential for some in-depth study and analysis by teacher and student. Elections USA
Overall Rating: 3
Attractive and packed with information, this slow-loading site earns praise for its details about current office-holders, elections, and opinions from the political right and left.
The teacher could foster classroom discussions and encourage student research with this site's offerings. Featuring "relevant links and resources," this URL achieves a "good" rating despite one flaw; it loads as
a glacier retreats. CNN/AllPolitics – Election '98
Overall Rating: 3
The site, CNN's 1998 election coverage page, is divided into six main categories: Overview, Senate Races, House Races, Governors'
Rates, Ballot Races, and Pre-Election Stories. "This bright, colorful site will engage and interest students at middle and high school level." It offers a substantial amount of information in one location, always a plus
for teachers and students. While it includes much primary source material and many links for research, there are no specific lesson plans or ideas for student projects or topics for writing.
Presidential Elections: 1860-1996
Overall Rating: 3
This "fair" site primarily presents information on election results since 1860. Teachers will be able to
use the maps displaying the popular vote and the electoral votes; graphing tasks or analytical projects might evolve from these maps. Students may think the site material "too advanced," though the site can be a useful research
link. Like summer highways, many links are under construction, inhibiting further the usefulness of the site. Campaigns and Elections
Overall Rating: 2
Reviews were mixed for this magazine site which displays "interesting and up to
date" news and commentary about politics but which also requires subscription. Teachers may learn new ideas on campaign politics here, but one reviewer believed the information offered was available elsewhere. Students will
find the reading level suitable and may discover an interest in the news and commentary presented. Easy to use and providing many links, the site earned a '"fair" rating.
Overall Rating: 2
Election Sites
