Political Parties

Main Objective

Students will be able to explain the role of political parties in selecting candidates for office, engaging voters, and organizing their respective caucus.

Additional Objectives

  • identify and explain the differences between liberal and conservative ideology.
  • evaluate their own political ideology and apply it towards matching their beliefs with a political party and presidential candidate.
90
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • Intro to Political Organizations: The Pizza Party Scenario and Pre-Write
  • A Lecture on Political Parties in the Electoral Process w/ Interactive Notes
  • Take a Political Ideology Survey
  • Group Like-Minded Students Together by Political Ideology
  • Political Party Assignment Menu

HW: Research the candidates and answer the following questions:

If the Iowa Caucus were to be held tomorrow, which candidate would you be most likely to support and why? Use evidence about your candidate’s personality, beliefs, and accomplishments to provide at least three reasons for your decision.

60
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • Intro to Political Organizations: The Pizza Party Scenario and Pre-Write
  • A Lecture on Political Parties in the Electoral Process w/ Interactive Notes
  • Take a Political Ideology Survey
  • Political Party Assignment Menu

HW: Compose a letter to your state’s political party organization informing them of things they need to do to appeal to young voters and encourage higher youth turnout to the Iowa caucus.

Optional Take Home Assignment: If the Iowa Caucus were to be held tomorrow, which candidate would you be most likely to support and why? Use evidence about your candidate’s personality, beliefs, and accomplishments to provide at least three reasons for your decision.

30
Minute Curriculum

Activities

  • Intro to Political Organizations: The Pizza Party Scenario and Pre-Write
  • A Lecture on Political Parties in the Electoral Process w/ Interactive Notes
  • Take a Political Ideology Survey

HW: Complete the political ideology survey and answer the following questions:

If the Iowa Caucus were to be held tomorrow, which candidate would you be most likely to support and why? Use evidence about your candidate’s personality, beliefs, and accomplishments to provide at least three reasons for your decision.

Standards


Iowa Core SS.9–12.PSCL.1
Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand the rights and responsibilities of each citizen and demonstrate the value of lifelong civic action.
Iowa Core SS.9–12.PSCL.5
Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand strategies for effective political action that impact local, state, and national governance.