Classroom Lessons and Activities
TFDA members have a wide variety of lessons and activities that help promote student voice, knowledge about elections and related issues, as well as core skill development such as through discussion in the classroom.
The TFDA Checklist and Self-Assessment Matrix has six categories that are important for high quality teaching about elections and voting. Check out the resources below, divided into sections related to the Matrix and more.
Teaching about Election Processes Current and Controversial Issue Discussion
Media Literacy Skills Development Action Civics and Experiential Learning
Middle School-Specific Activities
Midterm Elections
The TFDA Checklist and Self-Assessment Matrix has six categories that are important for high quality teaching about elections and voting. Check out the resources below, divided into sections related to the Matrix and more.
Teaching about Election Processes Current and Controversial Issue Discussion
Media Literacy Skills Development Action Civics and Experiential Learning
Middle School-Specific Activities
Midterm Elections
Teaching about Voting & Election Processes
Teaching the Electoral ProcessThrough iCivics' Electoral Process Lessons, students will learn how elections are run, including the role of the electoral college, party politics, and the difference between midterm and presidential elections. 
Run a CampaignHelp students learn how to campaign for an issue through iCivics' Activate. In this online game, students will learn how to run a campaign by gathering resources, engaging elected officials, and raise support for their cause. In iCivics' Win the White House, students learn about the Electoral Process and manage their own presidential campaign. (Spanish translation included.) |
Voting RightsExplore the evolution of voting rights in the United States through iCivic's Voting Rights interactive lesson or through this lesson plan and extension activities provided by Facing History and Ourselves. 
Caucuses and PrimariesPlan your lessons around the calendar of this year's caucuses and primaries, provided by the American Federation of Teachers. Invite students to learn and construct their own argument about the role of the Iowa caucuses using this lesson plan from Facing History and Ourselves. With students, read CloseUp's recap of the 2020 primaries thus far, and facilitate a conversation using the discussion questions provided. This lesson plan from PBS NewsHour Extra introduces students to the basics of and differences between caucuses and primaries in 1-2 lessons. |
Democracy TodayDiscover the current state of our nation's democracy through Facing History's blog posts and lessons. Learn about voting rights in the 2018 Midterm Elections, discuss a student's blog post about voting for the first time in a turbulent political climate, and study the world's largest democracy. 
Elections in ActionMikva Challenge put together a collection of five lessons to teach about elections (from voting to candidates to campaigns) and are designed to give students the chance to "do civics." 
Exploring the PastExplore Facing History's Lessons on civil rights in the 19th and 20th century. Learn about Susan B. Anthony's brave actions that led to women's suffrage, discover the role of Race in US History, and discuss non-violent movements to obtain voting rights. |
Election LessonsPBS News Hour has a variety of lesson plans addressing elections such as exploring why midterms matter, down ballot voting, the determinations of who votes, and presidential elections. During midterm election years, make sure to check out PBS' #MonitoringTheMidterms Classroom Series. Check out Super Civics 2020 for a compilation of all of their latest campaign coverage and resources. 
Try Your Hand at PoliticsIn iCivics' Cast Your Vote game, students learn what it takes to be come an informed voter, from knowing the issues to knowing the candidates. (Spanish translation include.) Through the virtual game iCivics' Represent Me students will take on the role of a legislator from a diverse constituency. Their goal is to consider your voters' backgrounds before deciding what bill to sponsor in Congress. Can they meet everyone's needs and get re-elected? |
Current and Controversial Discussion
The Current
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The Controversial Issues BlogCheck out Close Up's Blog to help students discuss controversial public policy issues . Relevant lessons may include Should Public College Be Free? and Should the Federal Government Legalize Marijuana? |
Virtual Engagement: Mismatch
Mismatch is an online tool created by Close Up and AllSides for Schools which makes it easy for classrooms in different parts of the United States to find each other, choose one or more topics to discuss, schedule meeting times, and hold live video conversations.
Media Literacy Skills Development
Teaching Media Literacy
The National Association for Media Literacy Education's core principles outline the central goals and methods for effective teaching on media literacy, and this media literacy one-pager details the core skills and questions of the practice.
NAMLE provides numerous resources for teaching on elections and civics that are in line with these principles on their resources website. Students will learn how to access, analyze, evaluate, and act using all forms of media in 21st century democracy.
Use their Code of Best Practices, created in partnership with the Center for Social Media at American University, the Media Education Lab, and other organizations, to learn about copyright use and fair use policies when engaging students in creating media of their own or using others'.
NAMLE provides numerous resources for teaching on elections and civics that are in line with these principles on their resources website. Students will learn how to access, analyze, evaluate, and act using all forms of media in 21st century democracy.
Use their Code of Best Practices, created in partnership with the Center for Social Media at American University, the Media Education Lab, and other organizations, to learn about copyright use and fair use policies when engaging students in creating media of their own or using others'.
Digital CivicsThe Digital Civics Toolkit provides information and modules for teachers and students to explore a range of civic opportunities and dilemmas. |
Decoding Media BiasUse PBS News Hour's interactive Decoding Media Bias Lesson Plan to teach students how to critically analyze media sources on the government and politics. |
Action Civics and Experiential Learning
Elections in ActionMikva Challenge put together a collection of five lessons to teach about elections (from voting to candidates to campaigns) and are designed to give students the chance to "do civics." |
Make A ChangeGeneration Citizen's Beyond the Ballot provides two lesson plans that empower students to make a change in their community. Students will work together to choose an issue in their community they feel needs to be solved, and then seek out a local elected official to address it. |
Middle School Activities
Try Your Hand at PoliticsThrough the virtual game iCivics' Represent Me students will take on the role of a legislator from a diverse constituency. Their goal is to consider your voters' backgrounds before deciding what bill to sponsor in Congress. Can they meet everyone's needs and get re-elected? 
Teaching the Election ProcessCare of NCSS, utilize this article from the journal Social Education for a step-by-step guide to demystifying political parties, campaigning, and voting for middle school students in ten days. Or consult this guide, from Social Studies and the Young Learner, on teaching about Elections during a Presidential Election Year. |
Run For OfficeHelp students learn how to campaign for an issue through iCivics' Activate. In this online game, students will learn how to run a campaign by gathering resources, engaging elected officials, and raise support for their cause. 
Voting MattersKick off the election season with iCivics' Voting Matters, designed to teach students how registration and voting work in their state. Your students can encourage their family and friends to register to vote with the flyer maker exercise. |
Local and Midterm Elections
Midterms Matter
Teach students that midterms are just as important as presidential elections through the Ronald Reagan Foundation's Midterm Elections Matter lesson plan.
