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Lesson Plan
CORRELATION TO NATIONAL STANDARDS

Youth Perspectives Vote 2012: “Listen to Me”

Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Imani M. Cheers, Ph.D.
Subject(s)
Civics/Government/Politics, Journalism, Current Events, Communication Arts, Debate, Social Studies
Estimated Time
One 45-minute class periods
Grade Level
Grades 7-12
Objective

Students will:

  1. Participate in a class discussion related to crowd sourcing and the 2012 Presidential election.
  2. View “Listen to Me” video clips, inspired by the popular It Gets Better YouTube campaign, that engages the American public about the issues they deem important during this election season.
  3. Discuss the importance of appropriate responses that encourage positive democratic discourse.
  4. Discuss the importance of young people being engaged in the political process.
.

Procedure

  1. Begin class by facilitating a discussion about the 2012 Presidential election and introduce the “Listen to Me” initiative. Use some of these discussion prompt questions.
    1. What do you want your political leaders to know about your family’s situation?
    2. What aren’t lawmakers listening to from their communities? 
  2. Present the “Listen to Me” questions.
    1. What is your full name, and where are you located?
    2. What is the most important issue to you during this election?
    3. Are you hopeful about the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
    4. Do you think the political system is broken? If so, why, and how would you fix it? If not, why not?
  3. Watch several videos including these excerpts from the PBS NewsHour
    1. It’s an Election Year, and We’re Listening
    2. Listen to Me: Spotlight Virginia
  4. For each video, have students write where the speaker is located and the issue they care about.  Ask:
    1. Which video did you like the best, why?  
    2. Which video was most different from your own perspective?  
    3. How did it make you feel? Were people worried about the same things or different things?  Why?  
    4. What did you learn about America from watching these videos?

Extension Activities

  1. If you have access to audio-visual equipment, invite your students to create their own “Listen to Me” videos!
    1. You will need:
      1. video camera (you can use an iPhone, iPad or Android phone with a video camera)
      2. a tripod
      3. an external microphone (if you don’t have one, make sure to record your videos in a quiet place)
      4. a computer with video editing software (Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro, Avid, iMovie)
  2. Encourage students to start interviewing their peers but expand their horizons and interview teachers, parents, community members, etc.
  3. Select the best submissions and send them to the PBS NewsHour  at icheers@newshour.org
Last Updated: August 22, 2012

About the Author

Imani M. Cheers, Ph.D. is a D.C. based educator, humanitarian and world traveller. A 2010 doctoral recipient from Howard University, Cheers is currently the director of NewsHour Extra and a regular contributor to Art Beat.


Additional Lesson Plans

Extra: News for Students
Analyzing the Candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election
A RACE TO WATCH: CAMPAIGN 2012, THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET
Social Media and Advertising in the 2012 Elections

The PBS NewsHour
Listen to Me: Spotlight Virginia
Listen To Me: Is the Political System Broken?
Campaigns Try to Win Over Women Voters

To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this site, contact us.

The Materials You Need

Access to the Internet

For Extension Activities:

    • Video camera
    • Tripod
    • External Microphone
    • Computer with editing software


Additional Resources for Teachers
Lesson Plan: Analyzing the Candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election

Lesson Plan: A Race to Watch: Campaign 2012. The Role of Technology and the Internet

Lesson Plan: Social Media and Advertising in the 2012 Elections


 

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National Standards

McRel Compendium of K-12 Standards Addressed:

Civics
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
Standard 19; Understands what is meant by "the public agenda", hot it is set, and how it is
influenced by public opinion and the media
Standard 27: Understands how certain character traits enhance citizens' ability to fulfill personal and civic responsibilities

Language Arts
Writing
Standard 1: Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
Standard 4: Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Reading
Standard 5: Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process
Standard 7: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of
informational texts

Listening and Speaking
Standard 8: Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes

Viewing
Standard 9: Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

Media
Standard 10: Understands the characteristics and components of the media

Working with Others
Standard 1: Contributes to the overall effort of a group
Standard 4: Displays effective interpersonal communication skills

Thinking and Reasoning
Standard 1: Understands and applies the basic principles of presenting an argument
Standard 6: Applies decision-making techniques

Technology
Standard 3: Understands the relationships among science, technology, society, and the individual

Common Core National Standards Addressed:

Common Core: Writing, 4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Common Core: Writing, 3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

ISTE National Standards Addressed:

ISTE: Media Concepts, 1.0 Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and visual expression.

ISTE: Media Concepts, 3.0 Students will be able to interpret and evaluate various media presentations within their context.



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