The Electoral College (lesson plan

The Electoral College Lesson Plan From Commensense Education Age Level: Grades 9-12 Suggested Time Needed: 1 Week

Description: By the end of this activity, students will have a better understanding of the Electoral College.

Educational Objectives: After completing this activity, students will: • Students will understand the Electoral College process • Students will be able to describe how the President is elected • Students will be able to explain strengths and weaknesses of the Electoral College

Guiding Questions:

• Would you believe me if I told you that a person could win the Presidency without winning the popular vote? • Did you realize it has happened four times? In 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000. • How can this happen?

Resources:

• Khan Academy Video on Electoral College: http://goo.gl/maARuD • 270towin Website: https://www.270towin.com/ • Google Doc or Microsoft Word document • Win the White House Game: https://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house

Khan Academy Video Guiding Questions:

• Is it fair? • Why do we have this system? • Do we need this system now?

Activity: Swing States

• Using the https://www.270towin.com website, students will explore the margin of victories for these elections looking for states with less than a five percent margin of victory • Students should additionally look for states which have gone back and forth between parties in recent elections • These types of states are known as “swing” states • Students will identify five “swing” states for this assignment to record on their Google or

Word document • Have students identify the results of the 2012 election in their “swing” states o Did the election results change? o Why do candidates and parties spend so much money on these states?

Lesson Wrap-Up:

• On their Google or Word document, students will reflect upon the most challenging part of the election