Learning Activity: Analyze state midterm elections

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(CNN Student News) -- Students will analyze their statewide races to learn about what is at stake in this year's midterm elections.

Procedure

Direct students to the Web sites listed to learn about what is at stake in this year's midterm election. Have student groups each select one statewide race to analyze. Challenge each group to prepare a one-page handout summarizing what is at stake in that particular race, the candidates running in that race, their stances on the key issues, and any additional information that might help an eligible voter make an informed vote. Ask students:

Was it easy or difficult to access information about what is at stake and the candidates' stances on the issues?

How might accessibility to information about the candidates affect the outcome of the race?

Is the race close, or is the winner an obvious choice?

How could the results of this particular race affect you, your family and your community?

Might this state election have national impact? Explain.

After students have presented their summaries to the class, encourage them predict the winners of each race and the overall voter turnout numbers. Have them justify their predictions.

Correlated Standards

Civics

Standard 1. Understands ideas about civic life, politics, and government

Level III [Grade: 6-8]

Benchmark 3. Knows institutions that have the authority to direct or control the behavior of members of a society (e.g., a school board, state legislature, courts, Congress)

Benchmark 5. Understands competing ideas about the purposes government should serve (e.g., whether government should protect individual rights, promote the common good, provide economic security, mold the character of citizens, promote a particular religion)

Standard 17. Understands issues concerning the relationship between state and local governments and the national government and issues pertaining to representation at all three levels of government

Level III [Grade: 6-8]

Benchmark 5. Knows the major responsibilities of his/her state and local governments (e.g., education, welfare, streets and roads, parks, recreation, law enforcement), and understands the organization of his/her state and local governments (e.g., legislative, executive, and judicial functions at state and local levels)

McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks), 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 500, Aurora, CO 80014.

Social Studies

Standard III: People, Places and Environments: Students will make informed and critical decisions about the relationship between human beings and their environment.

Standard VI: Power, Authority and Governance: Students will understand the historical development of structures of power, authority and governance and their evolving functions in contemporary U.S. society as well as other parts of the world.

Standard X: Civic Ideals and Practices: Students will examine the ideals, principles and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands/) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/).

Keywords

Congress, Senate, House, midterm elections, voters, candidates, issues

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