Activity 01
Stations Rotation: Campaign Strategies
Prepare stations for flyers (design persuasive posters), speeches (practice 1-minute pitches), debates (argue platforms), and ads (create slogan buttons). Groups rotate every 10 minutes, then share one takeaway per station. Conclude with a class vote on best strategy.
Explain the steps involved in running for public office in our state.
Facilitation TipDuring Station Rotation: Campaign Strategies, set a timer for each station to keep groups focused on the task at hand.
What to look forProvide students with a flowchart template of the election process. Ask them to fill in the boxes with the key steps a candidate takes, from announcing their candidacy to the general election. Check for accurate sequencing and inclusion of major milestones.
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Activity 02
Pairs: Mock Primary Debate
Pair students as candidates with given platforms. Each prepares opening statements and rebuttals on state issues like parks or schools. Pairs debate for 5 minutes, then switch roles and reflect on what sways voters.
Justify the importance of voting as a civic responsibility.
Facilitation TipFor Pairs: Mock Primary Debate, provide a rubric with categories like clarity, evidence, and rebuttal to guide students’ preparation.
What to look forPose the question: 'Why is it important for people in our state to vote?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share their reasons, referencing concepts like choosing leaders and having a voice in government. Encourage them to justify their answers.
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Activity 03
Whole Class: Election Simulation
Assign roles: candidates, voters, poll workers. Hold primaries with paper ballots, then general election. Tally results publicly and discuss why certain strategies won.
Analyze the strategies candidates employ to communicate their platforms to voters.
Facilitation TipIn Whole Class: Election Simulation, assign roles in advance so students can research their positions before the activity.
What to look forOn a small card, ask students to write down two ways candidates try to communicate with voters. Then, have them write one sentence explaining why a citizen might need to register to vote before an election.
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Activity 04
Individual: Voter Pamphlet
Students research a real state candidate's platform online or from provided sheets. They create a one-page voter guide summarizing pros, cons, and their vote justification.
Explain the steps involved in running for public office in our state.
Facilitation TipFor Individual: Voter Pamphlet, model a completed example first to clarify expectations for structure and content.
What to look forProvide students with a flowchart template of the election process. Ask them to fill in the boxes with the key steps a candidate takes, from announcing their candidacy to the general election. Check for accurate sequencing and inclusion of major milestones.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateCreateSocial AwarenessDecision-Making
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teach this topic by balancing structure with authenticity. Start with clear rules and rubrics, then let students experiment within those boundaries. Research shows that guided role-play builds deeper understanding than lectures alone, as students confront real dilemmas like fact-checking or vote-counting. Avoid over-simplifying the process; emphasize the messiness of real campaigns and elections to ground the lesson in reality.
Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining election steps, participating in structured debates, and creating materials that reflect accurate civic processes. They should connect personal actions to state procedures, showing understanding through both discussion and artifacts.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Station Rotation: Campaign Strategies, watch for students who assume candidates can say anything without consequences.
Use the campaign materials checklist at each station to redirect groups back to legal requirements like truthful advertising and party platform alignment.
During Whole Class: Election Simulation, watch for students who believe one vote never matters.
Have students tally votes on the board after each round, highlighting how small shifts change outcomes, especially in close races.
During Pairs: Mock Primary Debate, watch for students who think candidates can avoid accountability for their claims.
Provide fact-checking sheets during the debate prep time so pairs must verify at least one claim before presenting.
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