LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Describe why voting matters, identify ways to get involved, and analyze political issues that have a direct impact on their lives and communities

HEALTH ED STANDARD

NHES 8: Work cooperatively as an advocate for improving personal, family, and community health.

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

KEY VOCAB

cast, ballot, primary, policies, administrators, gubernatorial, campaign, perspective, canvassed, empowering, moderate, partisan

Lesson Plan: She’s America’s Future. Are You?

With the midterm elections approaching, teens from both sides of the aisle are speaking up. Their stories will inspire your students to make a difference.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

Why is it important for teens to get involved in politics?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. Why is it important to tune in to politics now? Elections take place November 6th, and the officials who win will likely have a big impact on our lives. 
  2. What are two ways teens who are too young to vote can make a difference in the election? Possible answers: They can work on campaigns, register voters, and challenge politicians to address important issues. 
  3. Why did Diana want to register voters? She wanted to help people who were confused about the voting process. 
  4. Why did Tyler decide to run for governor of Kansas? Tyler ran for governor because he wanted to call attention to education problems.

Like What You See?

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 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Where else could Diana go while trying to get people to register to vote? Possible answers: She could register people at concerts, sports games, or community events. 
  2. Why might we be less likely to say insulting things during face-to-face political conversations? Possible answer: When we discuss something face-to-face rather than on the internet, we’re more likely to adjust our tone and think about how our words might make the other person feel. 
  3. What’s a positive conversation starter you can use to begin talking about politics with someone who doesn’t share your views? Possible answer: “I know we share a lot of the same values, and I’d like to hear your thoughts if you’re willing to hear mine.”

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 7

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

Most teens can identify at least one policy issue they feel strongly about, but they might not realize that their vote can make a difference. Using the WHAT DO I STAND FOR? guide, students will identify an issue (education, immigration, etc.) and conduct online research to find a candidate who they feel they can get behind.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

NHES 8

CASEL Competency: Relationship skills

Students might hesitate to bring up politics for fear of upsetting someone, but there are smart ways to go about it. Our ARE YOU READY FOR NOVEMBER? handout will help them brainstorm conversation starters for community members who might be resistant to conversations about the election. Then, they’ll practice their skills on each other.

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