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Home ~ Academics ~ Fourth Grade ~ Elections... |
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Fourth GradeSocial StudiesThe Election ProcessThe purpose of this October and November unit is to introduce students to the process of elections so that we have an informed, educated, decisive, and responsible future voter.
Project OverviewAt the beginning phases of this unit, students will work individually, but the majority of the work will be done in cooperative groups. Each fourth grade class will represent a fictional political party. They will ultimately create a fictional presidential candidate, a platform stating specific issues the party will work on, including a plan of action if elected. Students will run a primary election, give a campaign speech and answer questions from their peers. Phase One - Introduction
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 | Most important responsibility of a U.S. citizen is to VOTE. |
| Discuss major leadership roles of the U.S.
political system. |
| Explain our basic 2-party system in connection to the presidential election. |
| Students will work in small groups with peers from their own homeroom to create a political party and a candidate. The entire grade level population will have the opportunity to register and vote in this election. |
Phase Two - Creation of a candidate and his/her qualities:
| Each student will work independently to create a candidate name, picture of the candidate, and the qualities the candidate has to make him/her a good president. |
| Afterward each student will be faced with the task of presenting their candidate to their party (class). |
| After presentations within the homeroom, the group must vote and choose which of these candidates will represent their party in the final election. Second place choice will act as the running mate. |
Phase Three - Issues:
The students will now learn what a party platform is.
| Each party platform will focus on 4 topic areas. ENVIRONMENT - HEALTH CARE - EDUCATION - WELFARE |
| Go out and ask other students and adults what issues they feel should be addressed under the 4 topic areas. |
| Students will brainstorm possible issues/problems under these topics that may be of interest to others. Our goal is to address issues/problems that others feel are the most important and need help. |
Phase Four - Choosing the issues that each party will focus on:
| Share and discuss what other people's concerns, ideas and hopes for the future are in each of the 4 topic areas. ENVIRONMENT - HEALTH CARE - EDUCATION - WELFARE |
| Decisions must now be made. What will be the one main issue/problem in each of the 4 topic areas that each party is going to focus on (what will our platform be?) |
Phase Five - Developing a Plan of Action!
| Each party will now work vigorously to create a plan of action for each of the issues their party has chosen to focus on in the 4 topic areas. If your candidate is elected how will you solve the problems you have chosen to focus on? |
| Students often develop solutions that require additional funds. It is important for each party to explain where or how their candidate will raise the funds needed. Understanding the concept of taxation is important. |
Phase Six - Campaign Speeches:
| The students who created the fictional candidates for their party will work with our gifted education teacher to write a speech based on the candidate's qualities and the party's platform. These speeches are delivered to the rest of the fourth grade students after being rehearsed with each homeroom party. |
Phase Seven - Giving Campaign Speeches & Voting:
| The room that the speeches are given in will be set up like a town meeting with microphones in the front and rear so the audience members will have a chance to ask questions following the speeches. (15 minutes total for each party) |
| The members of each party may contribute when answering audience questions. |
| A deadline date will be set for voter registration. |
| Voting will take place on a determined election day. |
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