2008 Presidential Election Resources

Help your students understand the presidential-election process by focusing on the 2008 race. We have plenty of resources about voting, elections, and the current candidates to help you structure your classroom discussion, lesson plans, and homework assignments. Get your students involved in the political process, with our help!

Bios of Nominees Encourage your students to learn more about the 2008 democratic and republican presidential candidates with these short biographies. Democrat Barack Obama Republican John McCain Lesson Plans The Presidential Election Process With this lesson plan, students learn that presidential elections are decided by the electoral college and not popular votes. This is an excellent resource for teaching students about the United States election process. Presidential Trading Cards Students will use the Internet to gather data about the presidents of the United States. They will use this information to create research projects. Inaugural Poetry Review poems read at presidential inauguration ceremonies with this lesson plan. After the presidential election is over, find out how the new president officially takes office. Mock Elections Mock Election Ideas for the Classroom Help your students understand the process of electing officials and the power of the vote by holding a mock election. These are great activities to enjoy during the presidential election. Margaret Chase Smith: A Woman for President Mock Election Guide Engage students in government by holding a mock election in your classroom! After reading Margaret Chase Smith, use the research ideas, discussion questions, and activities in this guide to teach your class about U.S. political parties, presidential debates, political campaigns, and voting.   More Elections Resources

References Presidential Elections Find an explanation of the United States presidential election process that is appropriate for elementary students. They'll learn the requirements for becoming president and how the election process works. Presidential Conventions A brief history of presidential conventions, an important – and symbolic – part of the presidential election process. Use this resource during the summer and fall election season. Closest Presidential Races An article comparing close presidential races in U.S. history. History of Presidential Inaugurations Share an article that outlines the history of presidential inaugurations in the United States. How a President Gets Elected Use this article to help explain the U.S. presidential election process, including nominations, campaigns, caucuses and primaries, and more. Unusual Voting Results in the U.S. The results of the 1872, and 1876 presidential elections exemplify the difficulties of the electoral process. Election of the President & Vice President: Electoral College This article explains the electoral college in the presidential election process in the United States. This is a great resource to use during the election season, when you're discussing current events in the classroom. U.S. Election Vocabulary Here is a list of over 60 commonly used words that relate to elections. Review these vocabulary terms when studying the presidential election. Election of the President & Vice President: Primary Election An explanation of the primary facet of the presidential election process in the United States. Students learn all about campaigning, the nomination process, and more. Residency Requirements for Voting in the U.S. A chart listing residency requirements for voting in U.S. federal, state, and local elections.