KQED Curriculum Bank
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Election Resources for Educators
PBS Teachers offers election resources for elementary and secondary school teachers at pbs.org/teachers/vote2008
- Lesson plans - Cover key election issues; the electoral process, political parties, campaigning, and the importance of voting in state and federal elections.
- Web based tools - Get students engaged by sharing their opinions, tracking candidates and exploring issues. The PBS Teachers toolkit includes Access, Analyze, Act: A Blueprint for 21st Century Civic Engagement — a curriculum guide designed to promote students' civic engagement through the use of elections-related social media tools.
- Podcasts - Subscribe to feeds and download podcasts from PBS to get the latest information about critical issues and races.
Now Classroom
pbs.org/now/classroom/
Lessons and activities to inspire understanding and critical thinking in your classroom and beyond.
What's on the Ballot?
Did you know that there are 12 PROPOSITIONS on the November
4 ballot in California, covering a range of issues from high-speed rail
bonds to parental notification of an abortion for minors to a ban on gay
marriages? Some of the propositions call for amendments to the State Constitution,
and four are bond measures — a whole other issue, in and of itself!
Did you know that there are six CANDIDATES running for President in CA? To learn more about what is on the November 4 ballot, check out
- The Easy Voter Guide Project at www.easyvoter.org, for non partisan information
- Secretary of State's official ballot summary of the propositions at http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/
- League of Women Voters nonpartisan website for information on local candidates and ballot measures at http://www.smartvoter.org/
Remember if you only vote on one or two things — candidate and/or ballot proposition(s), your ballot still counts!
Lesson Plans
Creating a Student Voter Guide
Download the Lesson Plan (PDF)
In this lesson students learn about key election issues through creating a California State and Local Student Voter Guide.
What's at Stake for California?
Tuning In to the 2008 Presidential Election
Download the Lesson Plan - English (PDF)
Download the Lesson Plan - Spanish (PDF)
In this lesson, students will familiarize themselves with the presidential candidates' views on issues of importance to the students. Using a variety of media sources, they will assess different policies in terms of the implications for California, and they will compare and contrast media coverage, evaluating bias and balance in approach.
ESL Teachers
The following lessons target Intermediate to high-level ESL students (level 4 to level 8)
(The target group levels range from 1 through 8, with the following guidelines: 1 = beginning, 5 = intermediate, 8 =advanced.)
Campaigning For Change
Download the Lesson Plan (PDF)
In this lesson, students select a school issue of importance to them, the faculty and the administrative staff, and devise a proposal for mounting a campaign around the issue.
Back To Basics: The 2008 Presidential Election
Download the Lesson Plan (PDF)
Students are introduced to basic terminology and background information about elections and voting in the United States. They will learn about the electoral process, the 2008 presidential election and the different issues in the campaign.
ITVS and KQED Education Network's COMMUNITY CLASSROOM
Please Vote For Me and Iron Ladies of Liberia offer thought-provoking perspectives on the changing nature of democracy across the globe. As the featured films in the VOTE DEMOCRACY! educator guide and video modules, students and teachers will find new ways to explore democracy abroad, elections, gender and media literacy through class discussions, activities and home work assignments.
pbs.org/independentlens/classroom/votedemocracy.html
Talking about Politics through Art SPARK lesson plans
Talking about Politics through Science QUEST lesson plans
Other Election-related Websites
Download a Voting Timeline (PDF)
The voter timeline from the "Northern California Citizenship Project Mobilize the Immigrant Vote 2004 - Capacity Building Series" offers a useful resource for educators.
What are the candidates really saying? Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. According to their website, "We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases." The center receives no money from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbyists or individuals. Flex your critical thinking and media literacy muscles by following the "recent postings" articles to watch how these journalists separate fact from fiction!
KQED's Election 2008 site carries the latest headlines, a "Select a Candidate" survey, an opportunity to "Ask Your Lawmaker" and a Truth-o-Meter to fact-check what the candidates say! We'll help you stay informed so you can do your civic duty.
Details of who's giving money to whom here at the "Open Secrets" website produced by the non-partisan and nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics. "The Center's work is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more responsive government."
Immigration is a key election issue. Watch Golden Gate: A Journey of Hope by Ana Cancino and decide where you stand.