PBS Teachers™
Thematic Teaching
democracy around the world: related resources
About the Authors | Activity Ideas | Related Resources
Find Below: PBS Web Sites, Other Recommended Links, Recommended Books
pbs online
By the People: Election 2004:
http://pbs.org/elections
PBS Kids: The Democracy Project:
http://pbs.org/democracy/kids
NewsHour Extra: Vote 2004:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/
Frontline World:
http://pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bytheme.html
Think Tank: Too Much Democracy?:
http://pbs.org//thinktank/show_1110.html
Liberty! The American Revolution:
http://pbs.org/ktca/liberty
recommended web sites
Factcheck.org: Annenberg Political Fact Check
http://www.factcheck.org/
The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania hosts a site about the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political campaigners in TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. They check into statements made by candidates Kerry and Bush and point out the half-truths, twisted statements and complete inaccuracies. This is a great resource not only for voters but for people interested in journalism and media studies.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Election 2004
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/election2004/
Scholastic hosts a site about elections titled "How to Run for President" and it takes students through the process of choosing a political party, how to be a fundraiser, choosing a campaign team, getting through the primaries, and how to pick a running mate. The activities include a quiz (printable and can also be scored online) and an election scavenger hunt. There is also a cool activity called "If You Were President" where you balance the budget according to your values and the game uses your choices and quotes to create a news article. Illustrated with colorful maps and charts, this site is helpful for upper elementary and middle school students who are learning about the election process.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
United States Elections
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/election04/
As the title clearinghouse indicates, the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse provides pointers and resources for multiple projects, topics, and audiences related to service learning. Fact sheets and hot topics for K-12 cover service learning, character education, citizenship, impacts and policies of service learning, and curriculum ideas. Tool kits in PDF format may be downloaded and provide information and strategies for practitioners, teachers, student leaders, administrators, and community activists interested in creating or enhancing service-learning programs. If you are just getting started in service learning projects or are looking for new resources, this is the place to begin.
This publication in PDF format provides an introductory overview of the American electoral process for people who are not familiar with U.S. election practices and traditions. Topics include: Political Parties in the United States, Presidential Nominations and American Democracy, U.S. Election Procedures, Elections 2004 Timeline, and The State of Campaign Finance. Check the Elections Glossary if you aren't sure if your spin doctor is reporting on a town meeting or a caucus. This site is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. The site is available in Arabic and in Chinese.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Federal Elections Commission
http://www.fec.gov/
Some of the topics you can browse at the Federal Elections Commission site are about how the electoral college works, the distribution of electoral college votes among the states, campaign finance reform, and voting systems. You can learn more about the paper ballot, the mechanical lever machine, punch cards (remember hanging chads?), Marksense (filling in a
shape) and Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) devices with touchscreens or other electronic devices. If you are curious about the many Political Action Committees (PACs), use the Pacronym feature to find out what each one stands for. Many of these documents are available in Word or PDF format, and are also available in Spanish.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Election Statistics
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/election.html
Since 1920, the Clerk of the House has collected and published the official vote counts for federal and congressional elections from each state. With all the rich data at this site, students and teachers can create detailed graphs and charts to illustrate many results of the voting for a given year, political party, and write in candidates. Statistics from recent elections are available as both HTML and PDF formats while elections from 1920 to 1990 are available only in PDF format. Note: download times can be long.
Subject: Math
More Recommended Math Links
recommended books
Vote!
By Eileen Christelow
Published August 2003
Grades: 3-5
Subjects: Social Studies
How would you choose a new mayor? Follow Elmer and Sparky, two political dogs, as they investigate the electoral process. This picture book addresses freedom of choice, the importance of voting, suffrage, voter registration, political parties, debates, polls, campaigning, donations, advertising, ballots, and vote recounts.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Choosing the President 2004: A Citizen's Guide to the Electoral Process
By League of Women Voters
Published November 2003
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
This concise guide examines the players and the process in the biggest election in the U.S. Chapters look at the voter, candidates, parties, media, money, primaries and caucuses, conventions, general election campaigns, and Election Day. An appendix evaluates the controversial 2000 election.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
The Buying of the President 2004: Who's Really Bankrolling Bush and His Democratic Challengers -- and What They Expect in Return
By Charles Lewis
Published January 2004
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
Running for the presidency costs a lot of money. This analysis of the two major parties and the president and his challengers reveals where the money comes from. The top 50 donors to each party and the top 10 career patrons for each candidate are identified. Dollar amounts are also given.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Deliberation Day
By Bruce Ackerman and James S. Fishkin
Published March 2004
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
The authors propose a new national holiday--Deliberation Day--to be held two weeks before Election Day. Registered voters would meet in small and large groups to discuss the central issues raised in the campaign. To accommodate all, the holiday would be two days long and all deliberators would be paid. The authors believe that Deliberation Day could revitalize democracy and free elections of undemocratic media influence.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
The Almanac of American Politics
By Michael Barone and Richard E. Cohen
Published September 2003
Grades: 6-8; 9-12
Subjects: Social Studies
This monumental resource provides an entry for the president and vice president and every representative and senator for each state. Entries include a photograph, biographical and career information, and recent election performance.
More Recommended Social Studies Books