This unit is ©Copyright 2005, 2008 by Cindy Downes. All rights reserved. Permission is given to homeschooling parents to use these units free of charge in their own homeschool only. These units may not be reprinted in any other form, for any other purpose (commercial or otherwise) without permission from Cindy Downes. Contact her at cindy@oklahomahomeschool.com.

This unit is designed to give primary-age children a brief introduction to the office of the President and the election process using library books, worksheets, art projects and Internet research. Each week, read the recommended book together, complete suggested activities, and obtain additional information by doing the suggested internet research. This unit is designed to be completed in twelve weeks, completing two, 1 - 2 hour lessons per week; however, you can customize it to any length, depending upon how much material you cover and how long you take to cover it. Read over General Directions for Cindy's Unit Studies for information on how to teach the unit.

Supplies Needed:

• A 3-ring, view binder for each child.
• Reading books obtained through the library or purchased through this web site.

Final Project: Each student will prepare a “President and Elections Notebook.” Throughout the unit, add completed worksheets, reports, photos, or drawings to the notebook. At the end of the unit, students can share this notebook with family and friends.

Week 1:

Would you like to be president of the United States? Being the president is a BIG job and it takes a lot of skills to be president. For instance, the president must be a leader. This week, we're going to learn what a leader is. We're also going to learn a little about our past presidents and how people vote for their leaders around the world.

• Play President for the Day.
• Read:So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George or watch the movie So You Want to Be President. 52 pgs., 2000, ISBN: 0399234071.
• Activity: Look up the definition of leadership and write it out.
• Activity: Interview a leader and write up the interview for your notebook.
• Activity: Take a President Quiz.
• Research a president and complete a President Report based on research. Resources: White House for Kids-Teacher’s Guide and Presidential Exploration.
• Complete a second copy of the above form for yourself. Discuss why you would or would not be a good president.
• Activity - President Word Search.
• Create a cover for your notebook and insert in binder. Add work as completed.
• If possible, plan a trip to Washington D.C. and the White House sometime during this unit. Otherwise, visit the capitol of your state and the Governor’s mansion. Add photos of this trip to your notebook.
• Learn about the voting rights of people around the world on the CIA web site.

Week 2:

The president must be a man of character and he must know how our government works. This week we are going to learn about character, the work history of past presidents, how our government works, and the history of voting.

• Read: J.C. Watts Jr.: Character Counts by Sarah De Capua.
• Activity: Research the work history of the current presidential candidates. What jobs do/did they have before running for office?
• Research: Learn about out Constitution.
• Research: Learn about the Bill of Rights.
• Research the three Branches of Government.
• Worksheet: Complete the Three Branches of Government , Who Has the Power, Checks and Balances worksheets from Time Magazine for Kids.
• Activity: Know the World. Print out a blank world map and write in the location of the major countries.
• Internet Activity: Presidents, printable worksheets.
• Learn about the history of voting.
• Fun things to do.
• Way Back Presidents.
• Add worksheets to your notebook.

Week 3:

A president must know about his country. This week we're going to learn about our current president and about the symbols and landmarks of our country. We're also going to learn some vocabulary related to elections.

• Read: President George W. Bush: Our Forty-third President by Beatrice Gormley. 2008 pgs, 2005. ISBN 0689878346.
• Election Vocabulary. You will have to look some of these up in the dictionary: Make a page for your notebook with the definitions written out for the following terms: amendment, ballot, campaign, candidate, caucus, Constitution, convention, debate, delegate, democracy, Democratic Party, electoral college, electoral votes, executive branch, exit poll, inauguration, incumbent, Independent Party, judicial branch, landslide, legislative branch, majority, minority, national convention, nominate, oath, opinion poll, platform, political party, polling place, popular vote, primary, political party, propaganda, registration, Republican Party, running mate, runoff, separation of powers, slate, spin, suffrage, term, third party, turnout, vote.
• Activity: Know The Landmarks - Travel through the Great American Landmarks Time Machine. Make a drawing of each of the following landmarks: White House, Washington Monument, Plymouth Rock, Golden Gate Bridge, Gateway Arch, Mount Rushmore, and Statue of Liberty.
• Internet Research - Symbols of US.
• Activity: Know America’s Symbols (American Flag, Bald Eagle, Great Seal, National Flower, Uncle Sam)
• Internet Research - Presidential Elections.
• Activity: Look at the signatures of some of our presidents. Practice writing your signature and place it in the notebook.
• Watch the video, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring James Stewart. 1939. DVD, 2000.

Week 4:

In order to become president, you have to be elected. This week, we're going to begin to look at the campaign process. We're also going to look at another skill the president needs, a good memory.

• Read: Don't Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis. 48 pgs, 2002, ISBN 0060286164.
• Research: The Steps to the White House.
• Activity: Play The Path to the White House
• Activity: Listen to a speech given by a current or past candidate for president.
• Have fun creating a silly speech.
• Activity: Improve Your Memory
• Activity: Who Wants to Be President
• Art Project - Create a Presidential Windsock.
• Internet: Watch a presidential debate play Debate Bingo.
• What is Soft Money and Hard Money?
• Add worksheets to your notebook.

Week 5:

Candidates for president are nominated by a political party. This week we're going to learn a little about political parties and symbols. We're also going to begin to discuss issues.

• Read: House Mouse Senate Mouse by Peter W. Barnes. 1996, ISBN 0963768840.
• Activity: Research Political Parties
• How we got our political symbols.
• Color page: Political Symbols
• Research campaign issues, voting record, and more at: Project Vote Smart and On the Issues. Find out what each of the current candidates stands for. Make a chart to illustrate your findings.
• Activity: Write down the issues that are important to you using Questions for the Candidates from Time for Kids.
  
• Internet Activity: Use this form to compare yourself with a candidate of your choice.
• Research: Learn how caucuses work and Primaries and Caucuses from the 2004 election.
• Add worksheets to your notebook.

Week 6:

Candidates must campaign for president. They must learn to write and give speeches. Their parties will often create campaign songs and slogans. We're also going to learn what goes on in the polling booth.

• Read: Voting and Elections by Patricia J. Murphy. Gr 3-6. 24 pgs, 2002, ISBN 075650144X.
• Read: Duck for President by Betsy Lewin. A duck learns the ins and outs of being president. PreK-3. ISBN 0689863772.
• Activity: Prepare for your campaign using this Campaign for the Presidency worksheet from Time for Kids.
• Activity: Learn how to write a campaign speech
• Activity: Listen to some presidential speeches. Write your own acceptance speech.
• Complete the You can Quote Me worksheet.
• Activity: Read campaign slogans of past presidential campaigns. Write your own slogan.
• Take the Campaign Slogan Quiz.
• Activity: Listen to a campaign song. Write your own campaign song. If possible, create a video.
• Take an Election Poll.
• Internet Activity (Register to Vote).
• Internet Activity (Patriotic Pinwheel).
• Inside the Voting Booth.
• Ballot printout.
• Print out "I voted" badges.

Week 7:

Once a candidate is elected, his first job is to give an inauguration speech. This week we're going to learn how the results of the election affects our country and learn more about the inauguration process.

• Read: U.S. Presidential Inaugurations by Andrew Santella. 48 pgs, 2002, ISBN 0516225332.
• Read for fun: Marvin Redpost, Class President. 68 pgs. Easy Reader. ISBN 067988999X. (2nd-5th)
• Activity: Read about the Electoral College. Research past electoral colleges.
• Internet Research: US Presidential Elections: Detailed national results for the candidates for U.S. President from 1789 through 2007.
• Learn about the Balance of Power. Print out a blank US map and make up a current Balance of Power map.
• Music -Internet Activity, Listen to “Hail to the Chief”
• Activity: Read the inauguration addresses of a few of our past presidents. Write your own inauguration address.
• Internet-Inauguration Quiz (Hard!).
• Election Crossword Puzzle.
• During a current election, watch the Electoral Map of the current election.
• During a current election, color a blank Electoral Map to represent which candidates received which electoral votes.
• During a current election, complete the Studying the Elections Results worksheet.
•  

Week 8:

Our president and his family live in the White House while he is in office. This week, we are going to learn about the White House.

• Read: Woodrow the White House Mouse by Peter W. Barnes. 1996, ISBN 0963768824
• Internet Research: White House for Kids Tour.
• Internet Research: Life in the White House.
• Internet Research: History of the White House.
• Internet Research: Tour Washington D. C.
• Activity: Take a tour of the White House and learn some fun facts about the White House.
• Activity: Complete the White House worksheet.
• Craft Activity: Make a White House model. Take a photo for notebook.
• Internet Activity: Quiz - Washington DC.
• Optional: Watch the video, The White House by A&E. $19.95 from A&E or check your local library.
• Add worksheets to your notebook.

Week 9:

Another "first" job of the president is to appoint his Cabinet. This week we are going to learn what the cabinet does and who sits in our current president's cabinet.

• Read: The President’s Cabinet and How It Grew by Nancy Parker. 1978, ISBN 0819309230. No Photo Available. This book is out of print. Try interlibrary loan at your local library. Order it right away as it takes awhile to locate. This book is worth hunting down.
• Research: The President's Cabinet and Bush's Cabinet.
• Read: How Laws are Made.
• Worksheet: Presidents
• Activity: Create a chart showing who sits in our current president's cabinet. Include Attorney General and Secretary of: Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Labor, Education, State, Energy, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Homeland Defense, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Veteran Affairs.
• Internet Research on the president's cabinet.
• More Internet Research on the president's cabinet.
• Optional: Listen to The U.S. Presidents March (purchase). Try to memorize the names of the presidents by singing along.

Week 10:

Now that the president has moved in and has his Cabinet, what is his job like? This week we're going to begin to learn what the president does.

• Read: Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame and What the Neighbors Thought by Kathleen Krull. 96 pgs, 1998, ISBN 015200808X. 1-6+
• Read: If I Were President by Catherine Stier. 32 pages. ISBN 0807535419. PreK-2.
• Research - What does the President do? and Ben's Guide to the President. Ben's Guide for older students.
• Internet, How Stuff Works-Air Force One.
• Internet, Find out what your president did this week on Presidential Documents.
• Review the presidents with the U.S. Presidents March, if purchased.
• Worksheet: What if I were President?

Week 11:

Winding down! We've covered a lot over the last few weeks. How about a break and do something fun?

• Read: Freddy the Politician (Orig. pub. 1928) by Walter Brooks. 252 pgs, 2000, ISBN 1585670804. You will have to finish this after this unit is done, but it's a fun book and well worth it. This is a keeper for your library!
• Play a game: Dynamite Presidents.
• Create a timeline of our past presidents. Use American Presidents photos to create a timeline of the presidents.
• If you're interested, why not start a President coin collection?

Week 12:

Now it's time to test your knowledge of what you've learned. You might also want to participate in a Mock Election.

• National Mock Election.
• Voting vocabulary quiz.
• Presidential Scavenger Hunt.
• Complete any missed activities.
• Finish your notebook and share it with family and friends.

Additional Learning Resources:

• Winning the Vote Lesson Plan.
• Presidents: The Secret History.