They create maps with a color key to show the popular vote results. Older students use the maps and a chart to determine how many electoral votes each candidate received. Students learn about the Electoral College's role in the election process. They use a resource to determine which other elections were decided by the Electoral College. They will volunteer on a campaign, keep a journal of their activities, and create an oral or written report for the class.
Students visit a website to answer questions about being president.
Students become immersed in the complex political world of developing a comprehensive party platform step by step. Using class discussions to mimic the diverse views and constraints that act upon the political process, students learn how political decisions are made to accommodate a wide variety of divergent views. In this project students have the opportunity to do their own field research, and at same time, develop a better understanding of the ways the broadcast media covers presidential campaigns. This lesson lends itself to an informed discussion of the effect the broadcast media have had on public opinion formation about candidates, issues, and parties. It is flexible enough to use at any time during the year.