The presidential race is getting hotter: Obama & Biden vs. McCain and Palin. It is exciting to talk about it in the classroom and here is a way to do it and get student to learn important skills at the same time.
As educators, we cannot promote one person or one party over another, but that does not mean we should be ignoring the 2008 presidential race in the classroom. The idea is to get the kids to watch the debates, read the blogs and columns, and come to their own decisions. The classroom is a great place for kids to share their ideas and feelings about the presidential race.
Here are some ideas that will both get the students excited and involved in what they are seeing on television and on the web.
There is a great unit plan from The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) called Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads. What could be more relevant? It has some engaging ideas.
Turns out NCTE also has a great website with lots of great free resources called ReadWriteThink. You might want to check it out on a regular basis.
Here are examples of the multiple handouts for the Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads lesson plan:
- Propaganda Techniques Used in Literature chart,
- Analyzing Propaganda in Print Ads and Commercials,
- Propaganda Techniques Used in Online Political Ads handout
- Persuasive Essay rubric.
The goals of the lesson plan are outstanding:
- analyze texts to identify different types of propaganda techniques.
- identify and explain the goal of propaganda techniques used in a work of literature and an example of non-print media.
- compare and contrast examples of propaganda techniques used in a work of literature and visual media.
- identify and gather evidence from a secondary source.
- use visual literacy skills to analyze, interpret, and explain non-print media.
- participate in a class discussion, gather information, and write a persuasive essay that synthesizes information from their explorations of propaganda
Some of the books that teachers can use include Orwell’s 1984 and Brave New World, Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451, Orson Card’s Ender’s Game, and Margaret Atwood’s HandMaid’s Tale. There are many additional books, short stories, plays and movies that are also listed in the lesson plan and that you can use. Just check out the website.
In addition to getting kids involved and interested in the presidential race this lesson plan helps connect the real world with the literature they are reading, and provides and opportunity to teach them how to improve their own web research as well as evaluate the credentials of a website.
There is even more…to help you out.
There are some great resources offered by By the People, a PBS resource that is organized by the NacNeil/Lehrer Productions to bring the views of “ordinary citizens” to a national level.
They have news for students, lesson plans, teachers resources and even video.
going to the website OntheIssues which has every candidate’s position on all the issues.
Democrats: Barack Obama, Joe Biden; Republicans–John McCain, Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin herself offers multiple opportunities for kids to do research about issues connected with her campaign.
Kids can research the intelligent design vs. the theory of evolution debate, the abstinence only sex education vs. the Planned Parenthood sex education issues, the problems associated with teenage pregnancy, the recent Alaskan history, glass ceiling for women, and earmarks in federal funding.
In addition Google offers some election tools for teachers that are timely and helpful.
For teachers of English and social studies what is going on in the political world makes for a natural teaching opportunity that will engage students and promote learning of basic skills.
Hopefully, many of us will take this opportunity. Let’s train students to be aware and engaged in the democratic process.
