Puyallup Civics with Washington State History

Unit Outline

Electoral Process

The Electoral Process | iCivics

Take a peek into the electoral process- from party primaries to the general election. Students will learn the distinctions between the popular vote and the Electoral College, and exercise their critical reasoning skills to analyze the differences between the presidential and congressional elections. Students will also contrast the various nomination processes and learn about the role of party conventions in American politics.

Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's activities below!

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the electoral process in primary and general elections.
• Compare the popular vote with the Electoral College as a means to elect government officials.
• Explain how a candidate can be elected without receiving the majority of the popular vote.
• Contrast primaries and caucuses as ways to nominate someone within a political party.
• Explain the role of local, state and national conventions in political parties.
• Identify key dates for national elections.

Terms of Use: This lesson is copyright iCivics Inc. Educators must sign in to iCivics in order to download materials. Use of these materials is limited to personal study, teaching, and research.

Voting Matters

Voting Matters| iCivics

This activity is a great way to kick off the election season, and promote voter registration in the larger community.  Students will learn about how registration and voting works in their state, and create a flyer to share with someone in their life. National Voter Registration Day is in late September each year, and has a mission of registering voters across the country.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the typical process of registering to vote in their state
• Explain the importance of voting in local, state and national elections

Terms of Use: This lesson is copyright iCivics Inc. Educators must sign in to iCivics in order to download materials. Use of these materials is limited to personal study, teaching, and research.

Voter Participation

Voter Participation | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

Voting in state, local, and federal elections is an integral component of citizenship and yet only sixty-four percent of American citizens participated in the elections of 2004. Students will examine census information from the 2004 election in order to compare the demographic differences between voting populations. Using this information, students will evaluate strategies for increasing voter turnout in future elections. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Students will understand the role of voting in a democracy in order to describe the importance of voting to the nation’s future.
• Students will examine current census data regarding the 2004 election in order to determine Americans who are under-represented in the election process.
• Students will identify reasons why many Americans do not vote in order to evaluate strategies for increasing voter turnout.

Terms of Use: Used here with the permission of the UVA Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. For additional resources, visit their website and register. Any lesson plan or resource found on the website may be used at the discretion of a participating teacher. 

Ideology Spectrum Lesson

Ideology Spectrum Lesson | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

This lesson is intended to help students develop an advanced understanding of distinctions in political ideology in order to be able to determine where specific issue positions would fall on the ideological spectrum. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Students will distinguish between modern liberals and modern conservatives. 
• Students will create an ideological spectrum that will include liberals, conservatives, libertarians, and moderates. 
• Students will describe the basic ideologies of conservatives, moderates, liberals, radicals and reactionaries.
• Students will examine policy statements and determine to which political ideology each belongs.

Terms of Use: Used here with the permission of the UVA Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. For additional resources, visit their website and register. Any lesson plan or resource found on the website may be used at the discretion of a participating teacher. 

Political Ideology Survey

Political Ideology Survey | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

As part of the above lesson plan, students will take the following survey:

E-Congress: Political Ideology Survey | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

 Students very often have little understanding of the meaning of ideological terms. While these terms are often vague and elusive to adults as well, it is possible through this survey and the subsequent two lessons for students to glean a sophisticated comprehension.

Learning Objectives:

• The student will examine her/his political beliefs.
• The student will explain the difference between liberal and conservative political points of view.
• The student will discern the significance of political ideology in examining political issues.
  

Terms of Use: Used here with the permission of the UVA Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. For additional resources, visit their website and register. Any lesson plan or resource found on the website may be used at the discretion of a participating teacher. 

Voting Rights

Voting Rights | iCivics

Explore the evolution of voting rights in the United States through an interactive PowerPoint presentation highlighting landmark changes. Following the presentation and class discussion, students apply the new knowledge of voting legislation to individual scenarios through a class activity. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the laws and amendments that altered U.S. voting laws.
• Identify obstacles to voting.
• Describe the role of Susan B. Anthony in securing women's right to vote.
• Determine whether individuals living at various times in U.S. history would have been able to vote.

Terms of Use: This lesson is copyright iCivics Inc. Educators must sign in to iCivics in order to download materials. Use of these materials is limited to personal study, teaching, and research.

Third Parties

Third Parties: What role do they play in American politics? | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

In this lesson, students will explore the important role third parties have played in the American political process. Students will investigate and analyze the obstacles third party and independent candidates must overcome to run for the presidency. Students will participate in a case study examination of the Tea Party movement to determine whether or not the movement will develop into a true third party.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will investigate the history and role of third parties in American politics.
• Students will identify and evaluate the barriers and challenges faced by third parties.
• Students will analyze data and primary documents regarding third parties and apply that knowledge in a small group discussion.
• Students will examine the history and purpose of the Tea Party movement in order to predict whether or not the Tea Party will evolve into a third party.

Terms of Use: Used here with the permission of the UVA Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. For additional resources, visit their website and register. Any lesson plan or resource found on the website may be used at the discretion of a participating teacher. 

Interest Groups and the Political Process

Interest Groups and the Political Process Post-Citizens United | The University of Virginia Center for Politics, Youth Leadership Initiative

Interest groups are an integral part of American democracy providing citizens a means to influence elections through collective action. One of the primary functions of interest groups in the political process is to promote or oppose issues and candidates, particularly by contributing to political campaigns and in some cases, sponsoring “issue ads.” The tremendous influx of cash after the recent Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision has had significant consequences on the political process. This lesson focuses on the influence exerted by interest groups through the funding of political campaigns, and can be used as a stand-alone lesson or in conjunction with “Special Interest Groups and Lobbying: Influence on the Legislative Process” lesson plan.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will define “interest groups” and explain their role in the political process.
• Students will describe the function of Political Action Committee’s (PACs) and identify several examples in recent elections.
• Students will recognize key terms related to campaign finance and explain potential problems related to each. 
• Students will evaluate the purpose and effectiveness of campaign finance laws.
• Students will investigate the impact of key U.S. Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance.
• Students will research and then debate the pro’s and con’s of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision

Terms of Use: Used here with the permission of the UVA Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative. For additional resources, visit their website and register. Any lesson plan or resource found on the website may be used at the discretion of a participating teacher. 

Role of the Media

The Role of Media | iCivics

What is the media? What does it do? Students examine the types and roles of the media by taking on the role of newsmaker and agenda setter. 

Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the role of mass media in monitoring and influencing government and the public sphere.
• Explain the impact of the media on monitoring and influencing government and the public sphere.
• Analyze media communications for bias.
• Recognize the media acting in its roles as  gatekeeper, agenda-setter, and watchdog.

Terms of Use: This lesson is copyright iCivics Inc. Educators must sign in to iCivics in order to download materials. Use of these materials is limited to personal study, teaching, and research.

Propaganda

Propaganda: What's the Message? | iCivics

Examine the seven forms of propaganda found in advertising and politics. Discover the persuasive methods behind the messaging we see every day and gain skills to effectively identify and counter them. A classroom gallery walk challenges students to detect the propaganda techniques at work and evaluate their effectiveness. 

Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate among forms of persuasive media.
• Identify bias, propaganda, and symbolism in media.
• Identify forms of propaganda in use.

Terms of Use: This lesson is copyright iCivics Inc. Educators must sign in to iCivics in order to download materials. Use of these materials is limited to personal study, teaching, and research.

Supplemental Resources

Register to Vote

Visit the Washington State Secretary of State's website and register online. You will need one of the following: 

• a current Washington State driver license
• a current Washington State ID card

If you do not have either of these, you may still register by mail or in person.

MyVote: Washington Online Voter Registration

Gerrymandering Activity

Readings: Unit 4

You may link to the online version of the textbook from the chart or download a PDF copy of the readings for Unit 4 below:

Terms of Use: These readings from U.S. History.org by The Independence Hall Association are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.