ELECTIONS UNIT STUDY

Put together by Daneille Gray Snowden

Election Unit Study 

I originally collected, sorted and roughly outlined this lengthy Unit study 4 years ago during the last presidential campaign. [Obama vs. McCain] Thus, this a collection of links for the homeschool educator that  gives a well rounded learning process about the United States Election, History, the Why, When and even Where in it's entirety. Do note the scriptures italicized in red. Use them for scripture memory during this unit. 
I hope this inspires both the student and teacher alike. ENJOY!

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

**A Twelve-Week Unit for Primary Grades. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/PresElec.html
This is excellent when used especially for elementary & junior high.

**Kids put their campaign speech on a teleprompter and practices speaking with one. http://www.cueprompter.com/prompter.php#

Tab.' making her mini books for
her lapbook. 

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**How to write a campaign speach (teacher use this as a guide when you child makes her speach). http://www.ehow.com/how_7271918_write-campaign-speech-kids.html
**These pages explain the election process for Federal officials. Information about specific candidates and their campaigns, party or party platforms, or political races will not be found here. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/election/index.html

Psalm 33:12-22

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!...”

So-keep God on your platform!

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**Go to your local Republican and Democratic Headquarters. Pick up stickers, pamphlets and buttons. Use these for display for your unit study and save for historical purpose.

    Also; volunteer with stuffing envelopes, passing out fliers and in the local parade. 

Felecia labooking great info. 

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Political Commercials:

**Paul Ryan Add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS-M7uYQwwo&feature=youtu.be
                                     
**M. Romney Add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F4LtTlktm0

** Obama Add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBorRZnqtMo

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Tab's Campaigning Sign

                                        

 **Map  for electoral votes  http://www.270towin.com/
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 **Ideas for Early Elementary http://www.littlegiraffes.com/election.html
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Romans 13:1-5
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

Felecia went for the Condoleezza Rice
look for her campaign speech. 

Felecia's campaign speech. 

**Coloring Pages (pdf file) 2012 Presidential Elections by Bruce Jones   https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B32R8ikpayXQbzFzdnZTM1JveUU/edit
                         
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**From Eclectic Home School On-Line- Elections Unit Study Resources & Reference Information

Lapbook--highlight totals
Senate/House. 

by Beverly S. Krueger   Excellent how she organized this unit study so clearly. I shall use this one a lot! Quite impressive!  http://www.eclectichomeschool.org/articles/article.asp?articleid=8  

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 **White House for kids (games..) http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/constitution/billofrights.html

**Tour the White House : http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/inside-white-house/interactive-tour

     Matthew 12:25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

**Quizzes  http://www.pocanticohills.org/election/activities.htm

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**This has a lot of games on it and lesson plans.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/election2008.htm

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**From Deb&Living Montessori Now (on pinterest) I love the lap book here it is cool and a bunch of other ideas. http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-government-activities/

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Tabitha with the Sarah Palin 'look' for
her campaign speech. 

**Path to the White House (interactive diagram) : http://www2.edgate.com/elections/inactive/path_to_the_white_house/
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** Online Lesson Plan Patriotic Music lessons for grades 6-8
 http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/lrMusic01.html

                                       
** Good for High School :  About America: How the U.S. is Governed is in PDF format.: http://www.america.gov/publications/books/us_governed.html
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Time for the debate with distinguished
moderator Mr. Nathan Snowden.

**Cartoons: 
       - History of the Political Cartoons: 
             1.)  This is a bit 'readee' but good for older kids (8-12 gr.)  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/PUCK/part1.html
                   2.) Political Cartoons in U.S. History  (pdf format) Pretty good job here.   http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/political-cartoons/pdf/teacher_guide.pdf
                     3.) Democratic Party (Donkey)  -- Thomas Nast http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/kicking_lion.htm
                      4.) Republican Party (Elephant) from the Harper's Weekly "A cartoon about criticisms of President Grant, an image which includes the first important use of the Republican Elephant." http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/harp/1107.html

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**Senate & House Ballot count- who is up for election. http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/United_States_Congress_elections,_2012

Mini Book inside the lapbook. 

Songs to teach:          
1.) This Land is Your Land    http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/thisland.htm
2.) You're a Grand Old Flag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZuvUWJRRbc
3.) America the Beautiful:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nItcJV2f35I
4.) America (My country tis of Thee): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN2I6vdzgts
5.) My Country Tis of Thee
6.) Star Spangled Banner:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i426pbQJZ_g
7.) God Bless America:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXLQ2RPLO78
8.) God Bless the USA:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E
9.) Stars and Stripes Forever:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mRn9chmRAY

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**The President's Cabinet http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/national/cabinet.html
** The Cabinet Illustrated with questions/quizzes : http://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_presidentscabinet.htm
** Obama's Cabinet: http://www.infoplease.com/us/government/cabinet-members-barack-obama.html
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LIBRARY BOOK LIST
1.) So You Want to Be President   ISBN 10: 1582975191 / 1-58297-519-1     ISBN 13: 9781582975191
2.) J.C. Watts Jr.: Character Counts   ISBN, 0516211307
3.) President George W. Bush: Our Forty-third President 2005. ISBN 0689878346.
4.) Who Is Barack Obama? by Edwards, Roberta  ISBN: 0448453304 ISBN-13: 9780448453309
5.) Don't Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis 2002, ISBN 0060286164.
6.) House Mouse Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes. 1996, ISBN 0963768840.
7.) Voting and Elections by Patricia J. Murphy. Gr 3-6. 24 pgs, 2002, ISBN 075650144X.
8.)Duck for President by Betsy Lewin ISBN 0689863772
9.) U.S. Presidential Inaugurations by Andrew Santella 2002, ISBN 0516225332.
10.) Woodrow the White House Mouse 1996, ISBN 0963768824
11.) The President’s Cabinet and How It Grew by Nancy Parker 1978, ISBN 0819309230
12.) Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame and What the Neighbors Thought by Kathleen Krull. 96 pgs, 1998, ISBN 015200808X
13.) Freddy the Politician (Orig. pub. 1928) by Walter Brooks. 252 pgs, 2000, ISBN 1585670804
14.) Understanding Presidential Elections by C.M. Jaime: http://www.markdown.com/education/homeschooling/understanding-presidential-elections.html (order here)
15.) Grace for President   http://pinterest.com/pin/1618549837448687/

Printed out each emblem
for each Cabinet and
made a game for
matching. 

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Vocabulary
Leadership                 Constitution                     amendment                  ballot                  campaign                              convention                    caucus                            candidate                  debate                 delegate       democracy           Democratic Party               electoral college       electoral votes         executive branch
 exit poll                    inauguration                        incumbent       Independent Party        judicial branch landslide                legislative branch                      majority                   minority          national convention nominate                          oath                           opinion poll                platform               political party polling place              popular vote                          primary             political party             propaganda registration              Republican Party               Democrat Party         running mate                runoff separation of powers        slate                                  spin                     suffrage                     term
 third party                     turnout                                vote

History of the Star Spangled Banner
-This has a lot of basic lessons and projects.http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/symbols.html 
-Simple lessons on this.  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/anthem.html
-This presentation is quite stirring and well worth the few minutes. Great historical data with an emotional presentation of the Star Spangled Banner's story. : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDjipffHpPg

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- Presidents The Secret History: http://pbskids.org/wayback/
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-PBS Election Unit Study
http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/elections.html

-Election Day Worksheets for Kids [click]

Election Process Steps:
Directions: Below you will find a short, simple description of each step in the election process.

1.) Following the general election, the Electoral College casts votes for President in January

2.) National political parties meet for conventions to select their nominees for President and Vice-President

3.) Candidates begin campaigning to win delegates from each state

4.) Candidate makes the decision to run for office and declares his/her candidacy.

5.) The general election takes places on the first Tuesday in November and voters cast their ballots for their candidate of choice

6.) States conduct primary elections / caucuses to award delegates

7.) On January 20 the new President and Vice-President are inaugurated
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What are the qualifications for running for office?
Step 1: What are delegates? Why are they important?
Step 2: What are some of the typical campaign strategies used by candidates
Step 3: What is a primary? A caucus? Why are they important?
Step 4: How is each party’s candidate selected at the convention? What role do superdelegates play in this process?
Step 5: What qualifications must a person have in order to vote in the general election? Who is not allowed to vote?
Step 6: What is the Electoral College? Why do they cast votes after the popular vote has already been cast?
Step 7: When the President is inaugurated, what responsibilities does s/he undertake?