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Subjects
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Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
Brief Description
Students write help wanted ads that describe the position of president of the United States.
Objectives
Students
Keywords
advertising, career, newspaper, president, writing
Lesson Plan
Introduce this activity by asking students to identify ways that people search for and obtain jobs. You may list these on the board. Highlight the newspaper's classified section help wanted ads during the discussion, and pass out sample newspapers (pre-screened). Allow students to read the help wanted display ads. Then invite students to share some examples and identify information that should be included in this kind of ad. List on the board or on chart paper some important details usually found in job-related ads.
Talk about the job of the president. What characteristics should a good candidate for president possess? What schooling and work experience are required? What are the demands of the job? Ask the students to think about these questions as you distribute the Help Wanted work sheet.
Point students to the brief page from Scholastic The President's Job. Tell them to read the information about the president's job and use it to create help wanted ads. Every ad should include
Students can locate additional information on the Web site
Ben's Guide to the U. S. Government for Kids
The President of the United States Grades 3-5), and
The President of the United States (Grades 6-8).
If Internet access is not available, print those sources or offer a collection of other sources of information about the guidelines for attaining the presidency and the role of the president.
When students finish writing, they may embellish their ads with appropriate artwork.
Older students may not need the benefit of the work sheet to get started with this assignment. Refer them to The President of the United States, another page from Ben's Guide that is designed for grades 9-12. There is additional information on the White House Web site, and these students might refer to Monster.com for authentic examples of job descriptions. Another site, Write a Great Help Wanted Ad, provides tips for making attractive and effective help wanted ads.
Extension activity:
Have students exchange their job descriptions and respond in writing with letters written as able candidates for the presidency. They might even select lawmakers and other "real" Americans who have run for the office or they believe deserve it.
Assessment
A satisfactory essay will contain a summary of the role of president, a description of the responsibilities and duties required, and references to the characteristics, education, skills, and experience candidates need.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Cara Bafile
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Civics
TECHNOLOGY
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