The Political Machine Lesson Plan

Grade Levels: 9, 10,
11, 12

Subject(s):

• Civics and Economics

Duration:  43-minute class period

Description: This class simulation spotlights the Electoral College
Process and the power of money and special-interest groups in Presidential
Campaigns. The activity is designed to add technology to the classroom, in
order to reinforce what has already been taught.  This is designed to serve as a review before
a test and/or quiz.

Students will learn

Goals:

1. To enhance students'
   knowledge of the Presidential Election Process.


2. To engage students in an
   interactive simulation analyzing the Electoral Process.


3. To inform students about
   Special-Interest Groups and Campaign Fundraising.

4.01 Examine the structure and organization of political
parties.
4.02 Describe the election process and the qualifications
and procedures for voting.
4.03 Analyze information on political issues and
candidates seeking political office.
4.04 Demonstrate active methods of promoting and
inhibiting change through political action.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Locate states within the United
   States.


2. Recall political demographics
   of the states, during the simulation.


3. Use Electoral College map to
   identify key ?battleground? states, during the simulation.


4. Formulate creative strategies
   for obtaining at least 270 Electoral votes.


5. Relate other students? political
   strategy, and compare how much money was spent in the campaign.

Materials:

• LCD Projector


• Laptop Computer


• Copies of the Electoral
  College Map (Each Student)

Procedure:

As the simulation begins, students will serve as the political strategists for
their presidential candidate.  Therefore,
they will decide which states to visit, where to build campaign headquarters,
how much money to spend and fundraise, and which talk show invitations to
accept.  In addition to these duties,
they will also decide where to purchase campaign advertisements.

Assessment: I plan to examine
students' contribution throughout the simulation. Students write a reflection about
the election results of the simulation. In addition to this paper, students
will be asked to complete a 10 question quiz on the U.S. Presidential Election
Process.