12th+Grade+Lesson

===Political Candidates Home Websites for evaluation Candidates websites 5th Grade Lesson 12th Grade Lesson===

Website Evaluation Sheet Candidate Evaluation/Policy Sheet Lesson Comparison

 * __12th Grade Lesson__**

This lesson is part of a unit on the presidential election and voting. The outcome for the unit will be for student teams to develop a in depth understanding of their assigned candidates views. Students will research the candidates formulate their arguments and participate as a group in a mock debate. Debate will be held in front of other classes.
 * Introduction**


 * Pre-Lesson Instruction:**
 * **Students will have been cursory information on the candidates.**
 * **Students will have studied the election process**


 * Lesson objectives**
 * Students will learn to compare information and evaluate that information in the context of the presidential election.
 * Students will learn to critically evaluate the information sources about each of the candidates
 * Students will learn to evaluate information and communicate that information to others in an effective manner.
 * Students will assimilate information about the candidates views and interpret that information into arguments and counterarguments in the mock debate.


 * Standards to be addressed**

Indiana Academic Standards: USG.2.9 Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues concerning foundational ideas or values in tension or conflict. **(History;** USG.3.3 Explain characteristics of government in the United States, which make it a federal, presidential, constitutional, democratic Republic.
 * Individuals, Society, and Culture)**

American Association of School Librarians Standards for Information Literacy: 4.4.4 Interpret new information based on cultural and social context. 4.1.6 Organize personal knowledge in a way that can be called upon easily. 3.2.1 Demonstrate leadership and confidence by presenting ideas to others in both formal and informal situations.

CNN: CNN: www.cnn.com Fox News: www.foxnews.com ABCnews [|www.abcnews.com] CBSnews [|www.cbsnews.com]
 * Materials`**
 * Web access for students, with links to the following pages:


 * Web site evaluation form
 * Candidate Information Form

Review (5 minutes) Introducing the task (5 minutes) Exploring web pages (40 minutes) Analyzing web pages (10 minutes) Introducing the task (5 minutes) Debate: (30 minutes)
 * Procedures**
 * Review debate process and rules.
 * Introduction to resources.
 * Have students divide into (2) teams.
 * Distribute copies of both worksheets. Ask students to write their name at the top of each. Each student needs to fill out the forms.
 * Allow students to explore each of the web pages gathering information about both candidates. Encourage students to try o find differences in the information posted on each of the sites. Are the candidates portrayed in the same light on each of the pages, are delegate counts the same on each of the pages...
 * Evaluate the web pages using the evaluation sheet. Which site(s) seemed to have the best information? Were there any sites that portrayed unique or different information than the others? Did it appear that any of the sites favored one candidate or party over the other(s)?
 * Introduction to the main issues relevant to the presidential race. Introduction to the moderation process.


 * Accommodations**
 * Materials may be read aloud to the class or projected on the wall to aid students with reading disabilities.
 * Student groups will be composed of various ability levels enabling peer to peer help if needed.

Teachers can assess the progress of students in meeting lesson objectives from the following:
 * Assessment**
 * Students’ entries on worksheets
 * Students’ class presentations
 * Students’ class participation (each student needs to participate in the debate portion of the lesson.
 * Audience evaluations of winning team

Continue to follow the election at it progresses. Have class discussions/instruction on the following:
 * Follow-up activities**
 * Electoral college
 * (2) party system
 * Constitutional Requirements for Presidential Office
 * Term Restrictions
 * Impeachment
 * Checks and Balances
 * More Debates