Unit 2: Mock Election: Political Participation: Government by the People: State & Local Government
Main Idea: Students will learn what it means to be a U.S. citizen and how citizenship is obtained. They will compare and contrast personal and political rights with social responsibilities and personal duties. Students will explore global citizenship, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in other countries. They will also learn about community engagement by selecting a problem of their own and creating a plan to solve it.
Main Idea: Students will learn what it means to be a U.S. citizen and how citizenship is obtained. They will compare and contrast personal and political rights with social responsibilities and personal duties. Students will explore global citizenship, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in other countries. They will also learn about community engagement by selecting a problem of their own and creating a plan to solve it.
Focus Questions:
1. What is a Political Spectrum?
Answer: BrainPOP: What do platforms have to do with politics? Find out in this BrainPOP movie, as Tim and Moby introduce you to the sometimes crazy world of political beliefs and political parties! First, you’ll learn about some of the core beliefs that all Americans share, and where they come from. You’ll also find out how individuals form their political beliefs, and why certain forces can shape our beliefs.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalbeliefs/preview.weml
2. What is the purpose of political parties? How did they form?
Answer (a): BrainPOP: Before the Democrats and Republicans, America’s biggest political rivalry was between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. And in the BrainPOP movie on Political Party Origins, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how these parties evolved.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/politicalpartyorigins/preview.weml
Answer (b): BrainPOP: You’ve seen their TV commercials; you’ve read about their candidates. Now Tim and Moby will give you the scoop on America’s two major political parties. In this BrainPOP movie, you’ll learn the history of the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as some of the key differences between the two parties today. https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalparties/preview.weml
Answer (c): SmartSong: Political Party Rap www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-A
Answer (d): This song introduces the concept of American political parties. https://www.flocabulary.com/political-parties/#
3. How do liberal ideologies characterize a person? How do conservative ideologies characterize a citizen?
Answer: We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them? http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/
4. What is a political platform?
Answer: Study.com: How do you know what a political party really stands for? A quick look through a party's platform, its statement on specific policies and general beliefs, can give you an overview of the differences between political parties. Students will be able to read the information provided and take a short quiz to measure understanding. http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-political-platform-definition-examples.html
5. What issues are important to voters?
Answer: Resource: What issues do you want to ask candidates about? In Cast Your Vote, you choose the questions in a debate, rate their responses, and vote for the candidate of your choice. https://www.icivics.org/games/cast-your-vote
6. Where do you fall on the Political Spectrum?
Answer: Pew Research Center: Are you a Steadfast Conservative? A Solid Liberal? Or somewhere in between? Take our quiz to find out which one of our Political Typology groups is your best match compared with a national survey of over 10,000 U.S. adults conducted by the Pew Research Center.
http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/
7. How does the voting process work?
Answer: http://commoncraft.com A short guide to understanding the U.S. election process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6I
8. How does the election process work?
Answer: http://kids.usa.gov/president/index.shtml
9. Why are electoral votes and popular support important for candidates running for president?
Answer: In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. https://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house
10. How does a candidate construct an effective stump speech?
Answer: A strong stump speech is one of the most important components of a presidential campaign. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/03/us/politics/gop-stump-speeches.html?_r=2&
11. What is the purpose of the electoral college?
Answer: In the United States, a system called the Electoral COllege periodically allows a candidate who receives few popular votes to win an election. http://people.howstuffworks.com/question472.htm
12. How do legislators meet the needs of United States citizens?
Answer: In Represent Me!, you work as a legislator trying to meet the needs of your constituents. https://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me
1. What is a Political Spectrum?
Answer: BrainPOP: What do platforms have to do with politics? Find out in this BrainPOP movie, as Tim and Moby introduce you to the sometimes crazy world of political beliefs and political parties! First, you’ll learn about some of the core beliefs that all Americans share, and where they come from. You’ll also find out how individuals form their political beliefs, and why certain forces can shape our beliefs.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalbeliefs/preview.weml
2. What is the purpose of political parties? How did they form?
Answer (a): BrainPOP: Before the Democrats and Republicans, America’s biggest political rivalry was between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. And in the BrainPOP movie on Political Party Origins, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how these parties evolved.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/politicalpartyorigins/preview.weml
Answer (b): BrainPOP: You’ve seen their TV commercials; you’ve read about their candidates. Now Tim and Moby will give you the scoop on America’s two major political parties. In this BrainPOP movie, you’ll learn the history of the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as some of the key differences between the two parties today. https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalparties/preview.weml
Answer (c): SmartSong: Political Party Rap www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-A
Answer (d): This song introduces the concept of American political parties. https://www.flocabulary.com/political-parties/#
3. How do liberal ideologies characterize a person? How do conservative ideologies characterize a citizen?
Answer: We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them? http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/
4. What is a political platform?
Answer: Study.com: How do you know what a political party really stands for? A quick look through a party's platform, its statement on specific policies and general beliefs, can give you an overview of the differences between political parties. Students will be able to read the information provided and take a short quiz to measure understanding. http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-political-platform-definition-examples.html
5. What issues are important to voters?
Answer: Resource: What issues do you want to ask candidates about? In Cast Your Vote, you choose the questions in a debate, rate their responses, and vote for the candidate of your choice. https://www.icivics.org/games/cast-your-vote
6. Where do you fall on the Political Spectrum?
Answer: Pew Research Center: Are you a Steadfast Conservative? A Solid Liberal? Or somewhere in between? Take our quiz to find out which one of our Political Typology groups is your best match compared with a national survey of over 10,000 U.S. adults conducted by the Pew Research Center.
http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/
7. How does the voting process work?
Answer: http://commoncraft.com A short guide to understanding the U.S. election process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6I
8. How does the election process work?
Answer: http://kids.usa.gov/president/index.shtml
9. Why are electoral votes and popular support important for candidates running for president?
Answer: In Win the White House, you get to manage your very own presidential campaign by strategically raising funds, polling voters, launching media campaigns, and making personal appearances. https://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house
10. How does a candidate construct an effective stump speech?
Answer: A strong stump speech is one of the most important components of a presidential campaign. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/03/us/politics/gop-stump-speeches.html?_r=2&
11. What is the purpose of the electoral college?
Answer: In the United States, a system called the Electoral COllege periodically allows a candidate who receives few popular votes to win an election. http://people.howstuffworks.com/question472.htm
12. How do legislators meet the needs of United States citizens?
Answer: In Represent Me!, you work as a legislator trying to meet the needs of your constituents. https://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me