OneVote Lesson Plan Part 5: Choose your Candidate and Cast Your Vote!
Objectives
Students will:
• synthesize information about each candidate, before deciding on final choice.
• create an original project promoting their preferred candidate.
• cast an informed vote in the Channel One News OneVote 2016 Mock Election.
Warm-up
Ask students to prepare for the OneVote Mock Election by reviewing their own positions on
key issues and choosing the candidate whose views are the most similar on critical issues.
Turn and Talk
Discuss with your partner other factors that could affect a voter’s decision. For example,
how important are the factors of age, gender and character in this election? How might they
influence you or other voters this year?
Candidate Selection Project
Students make their final decision about which candidate they will vote for in the OneVote
Mock Election. Students select one of the following projects to show support for their
chosen candidate, demonstrate understanding of the issues and explain their candidate’s
positions.
Teacher Note: You may wish to assign completion of this activity for homework to allow
students additional access to technology and materials, and provide time to practice.
However, students should view examples, begin research, ask any questions, plan and
create drafts for their projects during class time.
Project Options:
1. Design an original, eye-catching campaign poster and button endorsing your
candidate. Include an image and a campaign slogan designed to persuade voters.
Display final projects leading up to Mock Election. Have students do a Google
search for “presidential campaign posters” and “presidential campaign buttons” to
gain inspiration for their project.
2. Write an op-ed (opinion editorial) article supporting the candidate of your choice.
You may wish to submit your article to your school or local newspaper.
o Students can review these guidelines from Smith College about how to write
an op-ed.
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3. Present a persuasive three-minute speech as your preferred candidate, explaining
your views on three important issues. Speech should persuade audience to vote for
you! Have students check out these videos as examples:
o George Bush nomination acceptance speech in 2010
o Bill Clinton nomination acceptance speech in 1992
4. Create a 60-second political video advertisement for your candidate. Examples:
o Barack Obama presidential campaign TV ad
o Mitt Romney presidential campaign TV ad
5. Collaborate with another student to prepare and conduct a four or five-minute
interview with one of this year’s candidates. Have one student conduct the interview,
and the other student role-play the candidate. Be sure to ask and answer questions
that are relevant to this election and will win votes for your candidate.
o For reference, check out this interview of President Obama prior to his
election in 2008.
Teachers: Let us know about your classroom projects and activities! Channel One News will
be visiting participating schools and featuring them on the show. Email us at
[email protected].
Closing
All students cast their final ballot in the OneVote Mock Election. Polls are open during the
week of October 17-21. Check out our Mock Election Guide for more information about
how to hold an election in your school.
Unit Wrap-up: Watch OneVote Special Edition Broadcast on October 25, 2016.
Watch our full 10-minute Channel One News broadcast dedicated to the OneVote election,
showcasing results on a state and national level, as well as the issues that were most
important to students. Students and teachers: You’ll be able to search the results of how
your school voted at ChannelOne.com.
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