OBJECTIVES
This unit is
designed to help
teachers explain the
workings of federal,
state and local
state political
institutions and
processes to middle
school and high
school students. The
program's generic
format is designed
for teachers to
borrow, amend, edit,
and enlarge, as they
deem necessary, for
their classrooms.
With adaptations and
modifications the
activities are
appropriate for use
in Middle School 7th
and 8th grade Social
Studies and American
History courses and
for High School
Civics and United
States History at
all levels.
ANTICIPATORY
ACTIVITIES
Election
Simulation Game
In this simulation
game students take
roles as candidates,
campaign staff,
legislators,
lobbyists, and
voters to construct
a working
understanding of the
importance of
political and
economic activism in
a republican form of
government.
Voting Chain
Activity
A short introduction
into campaign
finance that
visually
demonstrates the
importance and power
of each vote in an
election.
LESSON PLANS
Connecticut
Legislature Viewing
Activity
The recent
legislation enacted
by the Connecticut
General Assembly
calling for sweeping
reforms in
Connecticut's
campaign finance
laws has brought
significant change
to a system often
described by critics
as "corrupt" and
driven by special
interest groups. At
the same time,
opponents to
SB 2103 say that
while some problems
may have been
solved, the goal of
eliminating special
interest money has
not been achieved.
The following
activity uses video
of abridged debate
from the 2005
Connecticut General
Assembly Senate
session to place
your students in the
center of the
issues.
Mock Press
Conference
Student groups
participate in a
simulated press
conference
presenting their
position on campaign
finance and respond
to questions. This
lesson offers
students the
opportunity to
examine opposing
viewpoints, analyze
material, and
develop solutions to
a complicated issue.
The Election of
1896
The 1896
presidential
election was one of
the most exciting
and complicated in
U.S. history. Coined
the "Gilded" age,
there was a large
economic and
political divide
that surrounded the
election giving way
to various political
factions. In this
lesson students will
analyze political
parties, construct
the platforms, and
apply historical
concepts to today.
SUPPORT MATERIALS
Campaign Finance
Reform Timeline
word
|
pdf
Connecticut
Senatorial Districts
Map
pdf
Campaign Finance
Glossary
word |
pdf
Sources for
Consultation
word |
pdf
The CT-N Campaign
Finance Unit was
developed and edited
by:
Victor W. Geraci,
Ph.D. and Paul
Petterson, Ph.D.
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