History and Iowa’s First in the Nation Status

Main Objective

Students will be able to explain how Iowa became the first in the nation for the caucuses/primaries. Students will debate/defend why or why not Iowa should maintain its “first in the nation” status.

Additional Objectives

  • be able to define a caucus.
  • utilize speaking and debate skills.
  • analyze news articles as evidence.
  • evaluate their own reasons why/why not Iowa should maintain its “first in the nation” status.
90
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • An Opener on the 1968 Democratic Convention
  • A Focus on the History of the Iowa Caucuses
  • Read and Take Note: A Focus on the Presidential Nomination Process
  • Debate Preparation: Think-Pair-Share ‘Should Iowa Be First? Why or Why Not?’
  • It’s Time to Discuss Iowa’s First-In-The-Nation-Status
  • Evidence Analysis

HW: Each student should find their own news article about Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status for caucuses. Students will briefly present articles to the class the next day. (Due Next Class)

60
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • A Focus on the History of the Iowa Caucuses
  • Read and Take Note: A Focus on the Presidential Nomination Process
  • Debate Preparation: Think-Pair-Share ‘Should Iowa Be First? Why or Why Not?’
  • It’s Time to Discuss Iowa’s First-In-The-Nation-Status
  • Evidence Analysis

HW: Each student should find their own news article about Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status for caucuses. Students will briefly present articles to the class the next day. (Due Next Class)

30
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • Debate Preparation: Think-Pair-Share ‘Should Iowa Be First? Why or Why Not?’
  • It’s Time to Discuss Iowa’s First-In-The-Nation-Status
  • Evidence Analysis w/ Debate

HW: Each student should find their own news article about Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status for caucuses. Students will briefly present articles to the class the next day. (Due Next Class)

Standards


Iowa Core: SS 9-12. PSCL.1
Understand the rights and responsibilities of each citizen and demonstrate the values of lifelong civic action.
Iowa Core: SS.9-12.PSCL.4
Understand the differences among the complex levels of local, state and national government and their inherent, expressed, and implied powers.
Iowa Core: SS 9-12. PSCL.5
Understand strategies for effective political action that impact local, state, and national governance.
Iowa Core: SS 9-12. PSCL.6
Understand how law and public policy are established at the local, state, and national levels of government.
Iowa Core: SS.6-8.H.2
Understand how and why people create, maintain or change systems of power, authority, and governance.
Iowa Core: SS.9-12.H.4
Understand the role of individuals and groups within a society as promoters of change or the status quo.
Iowa Core SS.9-12.H.8
Understand cause and effect relationships and other historical thinking skills in order to interpret events and issues.