Election 2000 Lesson Plans

For a printer-friendly version of a lesson plan, click the "Get the PDF" link provided with each lesson plan description.  To view and print the PDF file, you MUST have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.  Click here to download and install the Acrobat Reader.

the necessity of compromise when trying to reach consensus on controversial issues.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12
For use with:

• OurVote online student magazine
• Election 2000 Web resources on political parties
• "Join a Campaign" lesson plan

Campaign 2000: The Eye of the Beholder
Students become aware of bias in news reporting in this extensive unit study on the impact of media on Americans' perception of the events in our world.  Get the PDF

Comparing Presidential Candidates Past and Present
Students examine, analyze, compare and contrast the present candidates with those of the past in terms of political campaigning, communication, and image-making.  Note that this lesson may be used for college-level students, and may also be scaled down for the lower grades.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s):  11-12
For use with:

• The American President website biographies
• The American President Web resources on the presidents
• Election 2000 essays and resources on The American President website

Creating a Biopoem
A fun way to let students express their creativity while at the same time demonstrating their research skills.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12
For use with:

• OurVote student magazine
• The American President video series
• All of The American President website biographies

A Delegate's Road to a Presidential Nominating Convention
Students conduct research on a current presidential candidate and participate in a mock caucus.  This thorough lesson takes students through an important and complex part of the American political process.
Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 9-12

Electing the President:  The American Electoral College System
Students navigate their way through the Internet to gain a better understanding of this important aspect of the American political landscape.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12
For use with:

• The American President video series - especially "An Office and It's Powers" and "An Independent Cast of Minds"
• The American President website biographies on Andrew Jackson, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Benjamin Harrison

The Essence of the Presidency
Students attempt to sum up the essence of a presidential candidate or former president by researching and choosing one quote to represent their selected person.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12
For use with:

• The American President video series
• The American President website biographies
• OurVote student online magazine

Join a Campaign
Give students real life experience working on a campaign staff.  This creative lesson includes volunteering on a campaign, journal writing, and oral presentation.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s):  7-12 and beyond

Media Survey Project: Television News Coverage of the Presidential Election
Students track the quality and amount of news coverage given to different aspects of a presidential campaign.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s):  8-12
For use with:

• OurVote student magazine candidate news and biography pages

Political Analysts: Talk Show
The ideas and predictions of political experts captivate us.  In this role-playing activity, student analysts will develop and present their own political talk show.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12

Political Conventions: Origins and Evolution
Are political party conventions necessary in modern politics?  Student research the origins of American conventions and their evolution to find and debate the answer.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 8-12
For use with:

• The American President videos
• The American President website biographies
• The American President teacher recommended election websites

Presidential Candidates Campaign for the Oval Office
Students examine historical and contemporary campaigns to uncover the role of the media in political image making.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 11-12
For use with:

• The American President video series
• The American President website biographies
• Election 2000 political essays on The American President website

Presidential Power on Trial
All students are involved in a courtroom drama to judge four presidents on the abuse of executive power.
Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 7-12
For use with:

• "Expanding Power" video from The American President series
• The American President website biographies on Jackson, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt, Nixon

Public Opinion Polling for Fun and Profit
In this lesson, the students learn the importance of demographics and public opinion polls in campaigning and winning an election.  Get the PDF
Target grade levels(s): 10-12
For use with:

• The American President's "The War Room" computer simulation game

Rules of the Game:  An Introduction to Government
Students learn about the inner workings of the government and its participants in this fun introductory game and discussion lesson.  Get the PDF
Target grade level(s):  8-12
For use with:

• The American President video series
• The American President website biographies, especially Campaigns and Elections sections

Technovote 2000: Examining the Impact of Technology on the Democratic Process
How is the Internet impacting the current presidential campaign?  In this lesson, students explore and analyze the power of "cyberpolitics."   Get the PDF
Target grade level(s): 9-12

To Tell The Truth: Watching a Presidential Debate
This lesson is designed to help students become active viewers of political debates by teaching them how to research and chart candidate positions before the event and discern content from showmanship.
Get the PDF
Target grade levels: 8-12
For use with:

• "Family Ties" video from The American President series
• John F. Kennedy website biography
• Richard M. Nixon website biography
• Gerald Ford website biography