Lesson Title: Who Can Be President?

Unit 4/19

Lesson Title: Who Can Be President?

Short Term Goal: Students will explore the concepts of what a president does and who the president is as well as how he is elected.

SLE’s:

·  C.4.2.4 Define democracy

·  C.5.2.2 Examine the rights and responsibilities that citizens have in a community (e.g., obey laws, voting in elections)

·  C.5.2.3 Explain the voter’s role in the democratic process

Common Core Standards:

·  RI.2.1. Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

·  RI.2.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.

·  RI.2.5. Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.

·  RI.2.6. Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.

·  RI.2.7 Explain how specific images contribute to and clarify a text.

Materials:

Bookflix cals.lib.us.ar So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

Markers/ chart tablet

Construction paper or poster board

Direct Explanation/Model:

One Session: Whole Group

What:

Students will explore the concepts of what a president does and who the president is as well as how he is elected.

Why:

As a nation, we place no greater responsibility on any one individual than we do on the president. As citizens we need to understand and respect the office of the presidency.

How:

Participate in a variety of activities to gather information on the duties and qualities of the president in order to complete a poster that illustrates these.

Guided Activity:

Start by assessing what your students already know. The knowledge level is certain to vary between different children in the class -- from not having even heard the word “president” before to knowing exactly who the current president is. Make sure everyone has a very basic understanding by asking questions such as:

·  Has anyone heard the word “president” before?

·  Do you know who the current U.S. president is?

·  What do you think a president does?

·  What are some qualities a president should have?

Hint: When students are answering your questions, take notes on a chart. Start a list of presidential duties, characteristics and qualities and continue to add to it throughout the lesson.

For the Teacher:

Presidential Facts:

·  The president is the person in charge of our country, the United States. It’s similar to how the school principal is in charge of the school.

·  The president is hired by the American people for a four-year job. Once the four years are up, the people can either re-hire him or choose someone else. No one can be hired more than twice.

·  Barack Obama is the current and 44th president of the United States. He’d like to be re-hired.

The next U.S. president will be elected in November 2012. Presidential candidates will run election campaigns up until that time Any citizen of the United States over the age of 18, and who meets certain state requirements, may vote in Federal elections. This has not always been the case. When the United States first won its independence, there were many restrictions on who could vote. In some states, only white male landowners over the age of 21 could vote. Beginning in 1870, however, a series of Constitutional Amendments (15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th) and passage of certain pieces of legislation have extended voting privileges to more and more citizens.

Who Can Vote?

It is everyone's civic responsibility to vote, but in order to do so you must be registered. Requirements for registration and registration deadlines vary from state to state and the District of Columbia. North Dakota is the only state that does not require voters to register.

Registration forms may be obtained from the local election officials in your county or from the state's election office. You can also register to vote when applying for services at:

·  state departments of motor vehicle or drivers' licensing offices

·  state offices providing public assistance

·  state offices providing State-funded programs for the disabled

·  armed forces recruitment offices

In addition to these locations, many states offer registration opportunities at public libraries, post offices, unemployment offices, public high schools and universities, and through organizations such as the League of Women Vote.

Share the story Duck for President on CAL’s. After reading the book, ask the students to describe the president or presidential-hopeful in the book. Make a list of these descriptive words on the same board that you used earlier to record presidential duties, characteristics and qualities.

Apply:

Students will create a presidential poster that will include pictures and captions that illustrate the duties and qualities of the president. (This activity will show an understanding non-fiction text features)

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