Students share their answers. Then, brainstorm on the board a short list of three to five questions that may be used in a poll of voters in your community with regards to issues that are important to them in the 2000 presidential elections. Each group then reads the portion of the article pertaining to their assigned swing state and creates a poster. On the left side of the poster, students illustrate the polling results in their assigned states as discussed in the article. On the right side, they write down defining issues in that state for the presidential election.
Students share their results with the class.
Using the poll questions developed in the beginning of class, each student polls a minimum of five adults and compares the results to those explored in class for another state in your region of the United States. In a future class, students should classify their information of respondents by gender, ethnicity, and age, as well as by response. After comparing their results to statewide results, students determine reasons for the similarities and differences. Students will be evaluated based on written journal entries, participation in class and small group discussions, participation in creation of posters, and evaluation of polls conducted in their community. Research the voting history of your state in past presidential elections.