Seventh Grade

ACTIVITY 1 – Scoring the Debate

While watching the 2012 presidential debate or a previous debate, students will use the scoring card (see Appendix E) to determine which candidate did a better job. To score your debate scoring card, use the “How to grade the debate” form (see Appendix E).

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ACTIVITY 2 – The voting process

SS 7 C 2 7 Conduct a mock election to demonstrate the voting process and its impact on a school, community, or local level.

The students will run for student council elections. They will campaign for themselves and create a brochure providing information about themselves and why their peers should vote for them.

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ACTIVITY 3 – Current political parties

SS 7 C 2 8 Identify America’s current political parties and illustrate their ideas about government.

The students will research the 2012 presidential candidates and their ideas on government. They will complete a venn diagram comparing the candidates’ ideas as they relate to the political party ideas (see Appendix D).

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ACTIVITY 4 –

SS 7 C 2 9 Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experiences, issue-based performances, debates and political ads.
SS 7 C 2 10 Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government.

The students will watch the 2012 presidential candidates’ commercials on television and analyze them on positive versus negative campaigning.