In this lesson, students read a chart that shows the dates, state by state, of this year's primaries and caucuses. They translate information on the chart into calendar format so they can see at a glance the dates of those primaries and caucuses. They use a calendar template to complete that task.
Note: This lesson works well in a classroom or computer lab. In a lab setting, where every student has his ir her own computer, students can access the primary resource document on the Web. Also, the calendar template is an editable template, which means students can download a copy of the template (a Word document) and type the month, dates, and primary/caucus information into it. Or you can print copies of the template and have students fill them in by hand.
Arrange students into pairs or groups of three. Provide each pair or group with the 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar. Students can access the document online, or you can print a copy for each pair/group to use as they complete the activity.
Review with students the format of the 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar document. Students quickly will see that the states and U.S. territories are listed in alphabetical order; the dates of primaries and caucuses for each state are listed in the first two columns on the chart. To determine which primaries/caucuses are being held on which day, readers must hunt through the entire list. An easier way to see when each primary event is being held would be to transfer the information to a calendar. That is the students's job: to create a calendar of upcoming primaries and caucuses that can be seen at a glance.
Point out that some primary and caucus dates have an R (for Republican) or D (for Democrat) in parentheses after the date. That's because some states hold primaries or caucuses for each party on separate dates.
Below you will find separate instructions for those who will use the calendar templates in the computer lab and those who will use printed copies in the classroom
If students are using the Word document calendar-page template in the computer lab…
If students are working in pairs, have one student create calendars for January, February, and March primaries/caucuses and the other student create calendars for April, May, and June.
If students are working in groups of three, have the first student create calendars for January and February, the second student create calendars for March and April, and the third student create calendars for May and June.
Students type the name of the month at the top of the calendar page and type the dates for that month in the correct squares on the calendar.
Then they use the 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar document to create the calendar for the month. They type the names of the states in the correct spaces on the calendar to indicate the dates on which primaries/caucuses will be held in those states. (They type an (R) or (D) next to the state name if the primary or caucus scheduled for that date is for only one of the two parties.)
If students are using printed calendar pages…
Provide each pair or group of students with six blank calendar pages.
If students are working in pairs, have one student create calendars for January, February, and March primaries/caucuses and the other student create calendars for April, May, and June.
If students are working in groups of three, have the first student create calendars for January and February, the second student create calendars for March and April, and the third student create calendars for May and June.
Students write the month at the top of the calendar page. They write the dates for that month in the correct squares on the calendar.
Then they use the 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar document to create the calendar for the month. They write the names of the states in the correct spaces on the calendar to indicate the dates on which primaries/caucuses will be held in those states. (They write an (R) or (D) next to the state name if the primary or caucus scheduled for that date is for only one of the two parties.)
When the calendars are completed, students will be able to see at a glance which primaries and caucuses are coming up.
Color the states in which primaries are held in January one color, color the states where primaries are held in February a different color, and so on… Create a color key to go with the map.
Copy the U.S. outline map onto a transparency. Cover a bulletin board with white paper. Project the map on the paper. Trace the outline of the map to create a large U.S. map that students can use for a variety of purposes. Students might
-- record results of primaries and caucuses by writing them on the state.
-- follow new reports of primary results in each state in newspapers from that state, download from that source a photo or headline that reports the results of the primary in that state, and post the photo/headline on the state.
-- post pictures of the candidates around the map, and then string yarn from each state to the picture of the candidate who was victorious.
-- post around the map newspaper headlines that report primary results, and extend yarn from each headline to the appropriate state.
Assessment
Students use their calendars to correctly answer at least 8 of 10 questions on a quiz. Following are a few examples of the questions you might ask:
On which date will Louisiana hold its primary election? (March 9)
Which states are holding primaries or caucuses on May 11? (Nebraska and West Virginia)
How many states are holding primaries or caucuses on March 9? (five)
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
MATHEMATICS: Representation GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-REP.PK-12.2 Select, Apply, and Translate Among Mathematical Representations to Solve Problems NM-REP.PK-12.3 Use Representations to Model and Interpret Physical, Social, and Mathematical Phenomena
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Civics GRADES K - 4 NSS-C.K-4.1 What Is Government? NSS-C.K-4.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 5 - 8 NSS-C.5-8.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government NSS-C.5-8.2 Foundations of the American Political System NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen GRADES 9 - 12 NSS-C.9-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government NSS-C.9-12.2 Foundations of the Political System NSS-C.9-12.5 Roles of the Citizen
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography GRADES K - 12 NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms NSS-G.K-12.6 Uses of Geography
SOCIAL SCIENCES: U.S. History GRADES K - 4 NSS-USH.K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the People from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage GRADES 5 - 12 NSS-USH.5-12.10 Era 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the Present)
TECHNOLOGY GRADES K - 12 NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts NT.K-12.3 Technology Productivity Tools NT.K-12.4 Technology Communications Tools NT.K-12.5 Technology Research Tools
Find more activities for teaching about the presidential primaries in Education World's Primaries, Voting, Elections archive.
You might find additional activities of value on our President's Day resources page.
Click here to return to this week's Lesson Planning article, Electing a President: Lessons for Teaching About the Presidential Primaries.
