1、University of Virginia Center for PoliticsYouth Leadership InitiativeMeet the CandidatesUsing SpeakOut! and Sabatos Crystal BallPurpose: In this lesson, students study and evaluate key presidential, congressional and gubernatorial candidates in the 2008 election. In addition, students are asked to t
2、urn their attention to important issues in this campaign at the national, state and local levels. The lesson also provides a political efficacy component in which students write an informed letter about a campaign issue to an elected official or candidate of their choosing. This kind of personal con
3、tact with a government leader can be a powerful catalyst to future involvement in the political process. The lesson will also prepare students for participation in the YLI Mock Election.Objectives:1. Students will identify and evaluate the major presidential candidates as well as the congressional a
4、nd gubernatorial candidates from their state in the 2008 election. 2. Students will research issues of particular interest to them. 3. Students will write a letter to candidates for president, governor, the House of Representatives, or Senate.Key Words:ChallengerConstituentIncumbent Political Effica
5、cyOpen SeatMaterials:1. Copies of mock ballot2. Student copies of Candidate Research Forms (Form A or B)a. Presidentb. House of Representativesc. Senated. Governor3. Handouts of Issues Research Guide4. Handouts of Candidates Issues Grid5. Handouts of Contact a Candidate: Letter Writing Guide6. Lette
6、r writing materialsProcedure: 1. Warm-up: Distribute copies of the mock ballot at the beginning of class. Tell students they are to mark their choice for the next president of the United States, then fold their ballots in half. Collect and count ballots without any conversation. Write the vote count
7、 on the board. Ask students how they made their selection for president. What criteria did they use? What would they have wanted to know if this had been an actual election? Save student responses on the board or an overhead.2. Transition: Explain to students that this lesson will introduce them to
8、the candidates and issues in the 2008 election. By the end of the lesson, they will have enough information to make some decisions about which candidates and issues are important during this election cycle.3. Researching the Candidates: Teachers may use Candidate Research Form A for students needing
9、 a basic introduction to the candidates and their parties, or Form B for a more advanced introduction. Not all states have all three offices up for election this year. Teachers should feel free to use only the candidate forms most appropriate for their states and their students. Each Candidate Resea
10、rch Form B has a question that asks students to predict the winner of the election. Teachers may record student responses and check them after the election.4. Researching the Issues: Once students have completed the Candidate Research Forms, the next step is to research some of the issues that may s
11、urface in this election. Ask students to use the Issues Research Guide and the Public Agenda website (http:/www.publicagenda.org/) to help them learn a little more about the issues that interest them the most. The final part of the process is for students to match candidates to their own positions o
12、n the issues. Students may use the candidates own websites to complete the Candidate Issues Grid.5. Political Efficacy - Write a Candidate:Distribute copies of the letter writing guide. Have students write a letter to one of the candidates they researched. Teachers may wish to have students review e
13、ach others first drafts or submit first drafts before they mail their letters. Use the Speak Out! Page of the YLI website to locate addresses for legislators.6. Wrap-up: Review student answers from the warm-up activity. Do they feel better prepared to vote? What additional information might help the
14、m? How could they get this information?Extension Activities: a) Have students share responses from candidates with the class. b) Have students use their letters to invite candidates to visit the school.c) To further reinforce the distinction between incumbents, challengers and an open seat in congre
15、ssional election, have students play the CD-Rom simulation A More Perfect Union. Teachers may obtain a complimentary copy of the CD-Rom by registering on the YLI website (http:/ or by calling the toll-free help line at PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESMickey Mouse Bugs Bunny PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STA
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18、 BunnyPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESMickey MouseBugs BunnyPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESMickey MouseBugs BForm (A)Name: _1) Once you have logged onto the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative at http:/. Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the sc
19、reen and then click “Information on Government Officials.” 2) To identify presidential candidates click on the “Elections and Candidates” tab. The presidential candidates can be found at the bottom of the page. Click on their photos to see more information, and then click “See ALL candidates” to vie
20、w all candidates for President. Who are the candidates? To which political parties do they belong? (Include third party candidates).3) Next, using the Crystal Ball (http:/www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/president/), scroll down to Sabatos Electoral Road Map and click on View the Electoral
21、 Road Map.a. Click on your state. How many electoral votes does it have? _ b. Who won the state in 2004? _ By what percentage of the popular vote? _c. According to the Crystal Ball, what is the outlook for your state in 2008 i.e. who is likely to win? _d. Do you think any of the third party candidat
22、es have a chance to influence the outcome of the election in your state? Explain your answer.CANDIDATE RESEARCHPRESIDENT Form (B)Name: _1) Once you have logged onto the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative at http:/. Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand c
23、orner of the screen and then click “Information on Government Officials.”2) To identify presidential candidates click on the “Elections and Candidates” tab. The presidential candidates can be found at the bottom of the page. Click on their photos to see more information, and then click “See ALL cand
24、idates” to view all candidates for President. Who are the candidates? To which political parties do they belong? (Include third party candidates).3) Next, using the Crystal Ball (http:/www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/president/), scroll down to Sabatos Electoral Road Map and click on View
25、 the Electoral Road Map.a. Click on your state. How many electoral votes does it have? _ b. Who won the state in 2004? _ By what percentage of the popular vote? _c. According to the Crystal Ball, what is the outlook for your state in 2008 i.e. who is likely to win? _4) Why do Third Party candidates
26、have such great difficulty winning a Presidential Election? Do you think any of the third party candidates have a chance to influence the outcome of the election in your state? Explain your answer.5) Based on question 3 and your own research, who do you think will win the presidential election? Will
27、 the election be close? Defend your answers.CANDIDATE RESEARCHPRESIDENT Form (A)Name: _1) Once you have logged on to the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative (http:/ Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and then click “Information on
28、Government Officials,” then click on the “Elections & Candidates” tab. 2) In order to identify candidates running in your area, enter your zip code in the requested box and click “Go.” Under “Congressional Races,” click the “See Candidates” button. Fill in your address in the requested box to determ
29、ine your congressional district. What is your congressional district?3) Under the words “U.S. House,” you will see the candidates running in your area. Who are the candidates? To which party does each belong?4) Is this a race with an incumbent (current office holder) and a challenger or does your di
30、strict have an open seat? (If there is no candidate with an (i) next to their name, your state has an open seat). How could one candidates incumbent status affect the outcome of the race?CANDIDATE RESEARCHUNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Form (B)Name: _1) Once you have logged on to the interne
31、t, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative (http:/ Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and then click “Information on Government Officials,” then click on the “Elections & Candidates” tab.2) In order to identify candidates running in your area, e
32、nter your zip code in the requested box and click “Go.” Under “Congressional Races,” click the “See Candidates” button. Fill in your address in the requested box to determine your congressional district. What is your congressional district?3) Under the words “U.S. House,” you will see the candidates
33、 running in your area. Who are the candidates? To which party does each belong?4) Is this a race with an incumbent (current office holder) and a challenger or does your district have an open seat? (If there is no candidate with an (i) next to their name, your state has an open seat).5) Which candida
34、te do you think usually has the best chance of winning an election, the incumbent or the challenger? Why do you think this is true?6) Find out how close the race is between the candidates in your district by going to the House of Representatives section of the website for Sabatos Crystal Ball (http:
35、/www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/). Scroll down to the “Crystal Ball HotRace Readings” table to see if your districts House race is rated as one of the most competitive. Any district not listed in the table is considered likely to be won by the incumbent (a “safe” race). Is your dis
36、trict likely to have a competitive race, or a safe one?7) Based on question 6 and your own research, can you make a prediction about this race? Who will win the election? Will the election be close? Explain your answers.CANDIDATE RESEARCHUNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Form (A)Name: _1) Once
37、you have logged on to the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative (http:/ Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and then click “Information on Government Officials,” then click on the “Elections & Candidates” tab.2) In order to identify c
38、andidates running in your area, enter your zip code in the requested box and click “Go.” Under “Congressional Races,” click the “See Candidates” button. Fill in your address. On the next page, under the words “U.S. Senate,” you will see the candidates running in your area. 3) Who are the candidates?
39、 To which political parties do they belong? (Include third party candidates). 4) Is this a race with an incumbent (current office holder) and a challenger or does your state have an open seat? (If there is no candidate with an (i) next to their name, your state has an open seat). How could one candi
40、dates incumbent status affect the outcome of the race?CANDIDATE RESEARCHUNITED STATES SENATE Form (B)Name: _1) Once you have logged on to the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative (http:/ Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and then c
41、lick “Information on Government Officials,” then click on the “Elections & Candidates” tab.2) In order to identify candidates running in your area, enter your zip code in the requested box and click “Go.” Under “Congressional Races,” click the “See Candidates” button. Fill in your address. On the ne
42、xt page, under the words “U.S. Senate,” you will see the candidates running in your area.3) Who are the candidates? To which political parties do they belong? (Include third party candidates.)4) Is this a race with an incumbent (current office holder) and a challenger or does your state have an open
43、 seat? (If there is no candidate with an (i) next to their name, your state has an open seat.)5) Which candidate do you think usually has the best chance of winning an election, the incumbent or the challenger? Why do you think this is true?6) Find out how close the race is between the candidates in
44、 your state by going to the Senate section of the website for Sabatos Crystal Ball (http:/www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/senate). Click on “View all races” below the map. Scroll down to see details about your states upcoming Senate election. Underneath the state name, the Crystal Ball li
45、sts an “Outlook” for the race. If it is listed as “Solid” for one party, it is not considered competitive. If it only “Leans” or is “Likely,” for one party, it is a more competitive race. According to the Crystal Ball, how competitive is the Senate race in your state? 7) What is the Crystal Balls pr
46、ediction for the outcome of the race? Based on question 6 and your own research, can you make a prediction about this race? Who will win the election? Will the election be close? Explain your answers.CANDIDATE RESEARCHUNITED STATES SENATE Form (A)Name: _1) Once you have logged on to the internet, type in the web address for the Youth Leadership Initiative (http:/ Click the “Speak Out” icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and then click “Information on Government Officials,” then click o
