Discuss possible reasons for current turnout statistics
Write an essay articulating why they think young people should vote
Lesson 2
Students will:
Identify necessary qualities for effective leadership in a democracy
Identify the roles and responsibilities of citizens in a representative democracy
Lesson 3
Determine the races they will be following in the upcoming election
Understand the responsibilities of the offices up for election
Unit 2
Lesson 1
Students will:
Identify issues in their community
Understand the interrelation among various issues in the community
Conduct neighborhood interviews to validate classroom perceptions
Classify issues according to issue subject
Lesson 2
Students will:
Interpret data to identify trends in their community
Understand the impact of community trends on community issues
Evaluate data analysis as a means of identifying community issues
Lesson 3
Students will:
Understand the elements of survey design
Interpret poll results
Evaluate polling as a means of identifying community issues
Classify issues according to issue subject
Lesson 4
Students will:
Compare neighborhood survey results to classroom findings
Demonstrate democratic deliberation to determine their Youth Issues Agenda
Provide evidence to support why their chosen issues are important to the community
Unit 3
Option 1
Students will:
Discuss the role of candidate advertising in a campaign
Evaluate candidate advertising as a source of information about candidates’ positions
Research candidates’ advertising to determine their position on the students’ chosen issue
Option 2
Discuss the role of candidate websites in a campaign
Evaluate candidate websites as a source of information about candidates’ positions
Research candidates’ websites to determine their positions on the students’ chosen issue
Option 3
Students will:
Discuss the role of candidate debates and forums in a campaign
Evaluate debates and forums as a source of information about candidates’ positions
Research candidates’ websites to determine their positions on the students’ chosen issue
Option 4
Students will:
Develop questions for a candidate for elected office about their chosen issue
Discuss the role of face-to-face meetings with candidates in a campaign
Meet with a candidate for elected office to determine his/her position on the students’ chosen issue
Evaluate face-to-face meetings with candidates as a source of information about candidates’ positions
Option 5
Students will:
Discuss the role of writing to candidates in a campaign
Evaluate writing to candidates as a source of information about their positions on the students’ chosen issue
Use candidates’ responses to determine their positions on the students’ chosen issue
Unit 4
Lesson 1
Students will:
Examine citizens’ information needs in a campaign
Identify the role of the media in a campaign
Understand the role of the First Amendment in ensuring access to information about campaigns
Lesson 2
Students will:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each form of media in fulfilling media’s roles in a campaign
Identify media coverage of the candidates’ positions on their chosen issue
Determine which roles the local media have played in covering their chosen issue
Compare media coverage of the candidates to the ways in which the candidates represent their positions in their advertising, on their websites, in debates and forums, or at in-person meetings
Unit 5
Lesson 1
Students will:
Share their candidate or election research with the community
Lesson 2
Students will:
Conduct a mock election
Tally results to determine the mock election winner(s)
Unit 6
Lesson 1
Students will:
Compare actual election results to their mock election results
Discuss possible reasons for election results
Discuss ways to increase voter turnout, particularly among 18- to 24-year-olds
Lesson 2
Students will:
Write a letter to the newly elected official on the students’ chosen issue or ways to increase voter turnout
Lesson 3
Students will:
Reflect on their accomplishments over the course of the semester
Understand that civic engagement is an ongoing responsibility for all citizens