The Maryland Primary Elections are September 14, 2010.
The Election is November 2, 2010!

Links

Maryland State Board of Elections

Kids Guide to the Election Process

Kids.gov Guide to the US Government

PBS Kids The Democracy Project, Inside the Voting Booth

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Lesson Plans

The Election Process and the Campaign Trail -- In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from ARTSEDGE, students research the process used to elect a U.S. president and plan a campaign. They develop a campaign platform and plan a campaign train tour for a fictional presidential candidate.
Arts, Social Studies
Grades: 5,6,7,8

The Election Process and Political Cartoons - In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from ARTSEDGE, students organize the information they researched in the previous two lessons of the unit to create a flow chart that shows the process for electing a U.S. president and vice-president from the primary elections through inauguration day.
Arts, Social Studies
Grades:5,6,7,8

The Economics of Voting: What Do You Mean, My Vote Doesn't Count? -- This lesson, from EconEdLink, explores the costs and benefits associated with voting in national elections. Specifically, the concepts of rational apathy, rational ignorance, and expressive voting are explained.
Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

Elections... the American Way -- Use this activity to discover: How have American elections changed over time? What similarities can we see in elections yesteryear and today?

By the People: Election 2004 - Voting Rights -- In this activity, students will write letters to their state and/or national leaders either in support or against a fictitious proposed constitutional amendment to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.
Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

By the People: Election 2004 - Get It on the Ballot! -- In this real-life, hands-on activity, students will research referenda/ballot initiatives in their areas, choose something to put on the ballot, and compose a petition and gather signatures.
Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

By the People: Election 2004 - Identifying Major Issues -- In this lesson, students will analyze major issues in the current presidential campaign. Additionally, they will identify individuals or groups affected by each issue and compare candidates' political stances.
Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

By the People: Election 2004 - Presidential Campaign Stop -- Students are to plan a campaign stop in Anytown, U.S.A., a mid-size fictional city. They will need to select where the candidate will appear and with whom, how to handle the media and what he or she will say during the visit to best reach that city's potential voters.
Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

Democracy Project - Running An Election -- With this hands-on activity, students will run their school election just like the real thing. Students learn how to register to vote, design their own registration forms, register others to vote and more.
Social Studies
9, 10, 11, 12

By the People: Election 2004 - Analyzing Political Ads -- Students will view current political ads and learn how they can make use of various commercial ad appeals. Students will also develop familiarity with basic videography terms.
Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

The Election Is in the House: 1824 -- The Candidates and the Issues -- In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from EDSITEment, students explore changes in presidential election laws and procedures since 1796. They also examine campaign materials from 1824.
Social Studies
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads -- In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to propaganda techniques, and then they identify examples in texts they have read.
Arts, Language ARts
Grades:9, 10, 11, 12

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