Lesson plan: Design a presidential candidate
Subjects
- Social Studies
- Civics
- Government
- Art
Grade
K-6
Brief description
Students use collage and drawing to design their perfect presidential candidate. This activity can be used to extend the lesson What is a President?
Objectives
- Students identify desired characteristics, actions and behaviors of a candidate for elected office.
- Students use art skills and creativity to depict a “perfect” candidate.
- Students practice forming opinions about candidates.
Keywords
president, election, candidate
Materials needed
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Magazines (such as Time, U.S. News & World Report, etc.)
- Markers or crayons
- (If desired) Computer access for finding clip art
Lesson plan
NOTE: What is a President? can be used along with this lesson. If you have previously used “What is a President?” begin by asking students if they’ve thought of any presidential duties, characteristics or qualities that can be added to the class list.
- Talk about some of the duties and responsibilities of a president. What kinds of characteristics, qualities or actions are important in a presidential candidate? (Make a class list, if you haven’t already.)
- In the United States, we are lucky that we have the opportunity to choose our president by voting in an election. Voting is a big responsibility. When you are old enough to vote, it will be important to learn all you can about each candidate so that you can make a good choice. What would make you vote or not vote for a particular candidate? (Add any relevant items to your class list of characteristics, qualities or actions.) If a presidential campaign is underway currently: What do you like or not like about particular candidates? Who would you vote for, and why?
- Hand out the materials to students. Explain that they will draw/paste their “perfect” candidate on the construction paper.
- Encourage children to go beyond physical characteristics and incorporate desired actions and behaviors as they imagine their candidate.
- Let them cut images from magazines (and/or access clip art online) and use drawing materials to construct their candidate. Older students can add cut-out words to their candidate designs.
- Once the candidate collages are complete (and dry), discuss them as a class, letting each student talk a little about the candidate s/he created.
Assessment
Evaluate students’ collages in terms of:
- Creativity
- Number and variety of presidential characteristics represented
- Demonstrated understanding of the concept of a candidate for elected office
Lesson plan source
EducationWorld
Submitted by
Sarah W. Caron, Education World Social Media Editor
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