Teacher's Page

Below are additional information/ resources for Teachers.

Introduction:
This web quest is designed to cover a period of one week, in 5 one-hour Social Studies classes. Depending on the progress of your class, the web quest may take longer.

Purpose:

The purpose of this web quest is to provide a simulated environment, which demonstrates the importance of informed voting, while exposing the students to the political presidential process.

Goals:

Students will be able to:

• Utilize the web to research political candidates
  
• Summarize and gather information
  
• Create and design marketing materials
  
• Write and orally present candidate and candidate’s platform in a debate.
  

Learners:
This lesson is intended for Gifted/ Accelerated 6th grade students. Prior to this web quest, students should have already completed a unit on the election process and the Executive Branch. Encourage your students to be creative as possible.

Standards:
The lesson addresses following Quality Core Curriculum Standards according the Georgia Learning Connections web site.

• Identifies the structure of government as described in the Constitution.
  
• Gathers information through reading, listening, observing and surveying.
  
• Locates and utilizes information from a variety of sources, e.g., books, newspapers, atlases,glossaries, photographs, laser- disks, computer software, others.
  
• Organizes information into useable and efficient forms, e.g., graphs, charts, tables, outlines.
  
• Selects and discusses the main idea from a reading passage or listening activity.
  
• Follows established rules.
  
• Works in a group, following set rules of procedure to complete an assigned task
  
• Shows respect toward others.

Process:
Prior to web quest, familiar yourself with the information on the Process page.

Prepare letter of permission, which includes purpose, goals, and the websites of this web quest to be sent to each student’s parents to ensure that they have permission to use the Internet.

Students should be in groups of no more than 5. In the event that your class is larger than 20, you can add another candidate.

Resources: Tools needed for this web quest are:

• Reservation in the Student Computer lab, for 1 hour- three consecutive days. (at least 6 computers equipped with Internet access, MS Office programs, a graphics program such as printshop, or photoshop)
  
• Working Internet on all computers
  
• Headphones;
  
• Button making machine
  
• Construction paper; Butcher paper
  
• Poster Boards
  
• Marker/Crayons/ colored pencils
  
• Scissors
  
• Glue/Paste
  
• Ballots/Ballot box
• Forms

Evaluation:
Students will turn in an application declaring candidacy/ application for office, which should include information which proves that candidate is eligible to run for office. Students must turn this form in to you, AND receive approval, before they are allowed to move on to next part of the assignment.

Prior to the campaigning phase, students must turn in the initial fact collection sheet, a summary of their candidate’s platform, and an example of any marketing materials that they chose to use.

During the debate, students must submit a copy of their speech. Students will be given a list of possible questions for the debate prior to the actual debate. Not all questions have to be used.