Elections Class Review #1:
There is no better way to make learning meaningful than to provide students with the opportunity to live the experience. Helen Joyce’s Elections class curriculum provides the tools to make our election process real as students research and debate campaign issues. The Elections class, which was piloted at Sanborn Regional High School in 2000, has become more popular with each election cycle. Ms. Joyce’s rigorous and complete curriculum has given Sanborn students the opportunity to meet candidate representatives, understand the campaign process and as well as delve deeply into the issues of the day.
Our Elections 2008 class was responsible for developing a simulation of the 2008 Presidential election including the preparation for a school wide rally and student election. Members of the class took on roles of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, and their staffs as they created a microcosm of the actual process of electing the President of the United States . This is a great example of relevant education – I guarantee your students will benefit from the experience.
Gail Sudduth, Principal
Sanborn Regional High School
Kingston , NH
Elections Review #2:
The Elections program created and designed by Helen Joyce “blew the doors off my students”. The students were hooked from the beginning as they determined their various roles in our mock election. Their hard work in preparation for the election and the success of the campaign speeches are testament to the innovation and usefulness of Ms. Joyce’s program.
The Elections program was very comprehensive and well organized. It blended both the historical and the current politics of our country, affording the students a true understanding of our political system. I feel fortunate in finding Ms. Joyce’s program, particularly on the eve of such a historical election. Every high school should consider this program, as an enhancement to their Social Studies Curriculum.
Marty Williams, Teacher
Bishop McLaughlin High School
Spring Hill, Florida
Course Description:
The Elections course is a complete simulation of the process of electing officials in the American political system. It includes a school-wide political campaign, election rally and culminates in a mock election. It is designed for numerous types of elections - U.S. Presidential, Gubernatorial, Congressional or local positions. As they create a microcosm of the actual election process, students take on the role of the leading candidates and, with their campaign staffs, coordinate an interdisciplinary program that includes a number of other departments. The course goes well beyond the confines of the Elections class and will include virtually every student and faculty member in the school.
The lesson plans provide clear directions to both the new and experienced teacher. The activity book provides exciting hands-on activities for the students, from the development of primary elections to the dividing of the school into electoral districts or precincts. The assessments are varied and include both traditional and non-traditional means of grading student work. Included in the course are methods of research and citing sources. Class notes are available as transparencies or in PowerPoint format. Two separate pacing guides allow the teacher to accommodate the course to a semester length class of 45-55 minute classes or a mini-course of one quarter 90-minute block classes. The latter may be used to simulate a specific election and coordinate it to the actual election time table in the fall.
The author has been an educator – both as a classroom teacher and high school administrator for over thirty years. In both capacities, she and her programs have received statewide recognition by the New Hampshire Principals’ Association, local school boards and the media.
Check out the student endorsements for this course.
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