Election Study

Four year ago we did a unit study during the election. It was a points based study to learn about America's governing system and work to get a candidate elected. We will begin our elections lessons and campaigning next week. I thought I would share some of the activities.

Campaigning and Political Action Hands on Activities

10 points
Pray daily for President, Vice president, senators running and for the election process - 10 points per day

Literature Drops - distribute literature, brochures, etc through neighborhood - 10 points per piece

Phone calling reminding people to vote or participate in phone bank - 10 points per call

25 points
Wear your campaign t-shirt, hat or button supporting your candidate - 25 points per day

Send out cards encouraging people to vote for your candidate - 25 points per card

Make cookies, wrap them individually and pass them out with a tag remining people to vote for your candidate - 25 per cookie

50 points
Encourage your parents and friends to volunteer for a campaign and receive email updates

Get permission and place campaign signs or bumper stickets in yards or windows - 50 points per piece

Draw a political cartoon about the presidential race

Watch and record the presidential and vice-presidential debates - 50 points each

Invite friends to watch the debate with you - 50 per friend who joins you

Ask friends/family who they thought won the debate and who they will vote for - compare the results

100 points
Make campaign posters for use at rallies or in windows or to sign wave with - 100 per sign

Visit the childhood home or presidential library of a president - 100 points each

Conduct a survey of 10 people (10 points per person interviewed) ask two questions "What three things do you think are most important about a Presidential candidate? and Which presidential candidate do you intend to vote for? Compare and graph results of questions - 100 points for graph of results

Attend a prayer support evening at local church for the presidents or conduct your own in your home

Go to the polls with someone who is voting

200 points
Visit your local campaign headquarters

Volunteer at local headquarts (stamping, envelopes, signs, copies, phone calling, etc) 200 per hour points double last 72 hours

Door knocking, canvassing, sign waving, voter ID, etc - 200 per hour points double last 72 hours

Make your own campaigning t-shirt - 200 points each

Set up a voter registration booth at a local mall, neighborhood or other event

Register voters and hand deliver registrations - 200 per registration

Call a local talk radio station, share your age and why you think people should vote for a candidate or just vote in general

Write and film a 30 second commercial explaining why you believe your candidate should be elected

Write and submit a letter to the editor why you think people should support your candidate - 200 for letter 200 more if published

Draw and submit to your local newspaper a political cartoon representing the presidential race - 200 for cartoon 200 more if published

Color a map with your predictions of electoral college results (blue and red)


300 points
Take pictures and make a scrapbook of your experience doing this

Hold a mock debate on issues

Host a mock election

Watch the results as they come in on the evening news, mark a map by coloring the states with red or blue as called - 300 for completed map

500 points
Attend a candidate rally where the president, vice president or senate candidate is campaigning



Reading and Writing Assignments

50 points
Make a list of your government officials: national, state and local. Remember to pray for them by name daily

Read the US Constitution Bill of Rights, write what you understand them to mean in your life - 50 points per right

Memorize and recite the Bill of rights - 50 points per right

Draw a picture of the American flag - label the parts

Draw a picture of the White House

Play and sing patriotic music - 50 points per hour

Read your local newspaper and clip articles detaling current issues addressed by the current campaign - 50 points per article

Read and compare candidates positions on major political issues such as: economy, education, war in Iraq, homeland security, environment, energy, etc - 50 points per issue researched and discussed or written on

Discover the various Political Action Groups and endorsements supporting the candidates and discuss what that might show or mean about the candidates positions on issues - 50 each

Explain why each vote is important and how one vote can change an election

100 Points
List and explain ten changes you would make if you were president

Write and mail a letter to President George W Bush thanking him for the job he has done over the past 8 years as president

Write and mail a letter to Senator McCain, Senator Obama, Governor Palin or Senator Biden thanking them for their service to our country - 100 each

Write a report about what the US constitution says about the eligibility requirements to run for US President

Memorize and recite the Preamble to the Consitution

Research and list 10 reasons Americans should vote

List 10 ways the political parties differ - 10 points each

Take a current political issue and explain your viewpoint on it - compare or contrast to candidates

Read and explain the basic biographical background of the candidates - 100 each

200 points
Write a poem or song about what you hope America will be like when you are an adult

Discuss the election process from state primaries and caucuses through the conventions and election. Include specefics about your states caucus or primary

Learn about the history and present to an adult or write about and current platform of the main political parties (DNC, RNC, etc) - 200 per party


300 points
Research the history of the Electoral College then explain (orally or in writing) how it works, how it differs from popular vote, and why it was established

Read a biography of a past president, first lady, or out country;s founders. Non-readers: have parents or older sinling read aloud to you.

Read a book about the Secret Service and how the president and his family are protected

Read a book about the White House

Read a book written by each of the candidates - 300 per book

Memorize and recite the names of the Presidents in order of service to America

Memorize and recite the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Indepenedence

Research and explain the history and importance of third party candidates and parties and how they affect elections

Special points
Write an essay about "How the Outcome of the 2008 Presidential Election Could impact my life" - 1 point per word

By hand, coppy George Washingtong's "Rules of Civility" - 1o points for each rule written neatly

Write a summary of current articles found in the newspaper or online news source having to do with the election, issues or candidates - 1 point per word written

Write a list of: When your state joined the US, what the population of your state is, how many Congressional districts it has, the name of your Governor, US Senators and US Representatives - 10 points each

Watch School House rock - I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College, I'm Just a Bill and The Shot that was Heard around the world - 20 points each

Discover which Presidents have been homeschooled for some or all of their education - 20 points for each president found

*Material is based on material developed by Fran Eaten.