PROJECT AUTHORS: Texas: Anne Hackett-(hahacket@gmail.com), Harold New-(hjoen3@gmail.com),
Michigan: Kathleen Sharpe-(ksharpe@remc11.k12.mi.us), Mary Marthey-(mmarthey@gmail.com)
SUBJECT AREA: SOCIAL STUDIES/CIVICS
INTENDED GRADE LEVEL: 5th through 12th grade
DESCRIPTION: The study of the history of the voting rights of African Americans and women.
For the first time in U.S. history an African American and a woman have made it all
the way through the Presidential primaries. Students, in two groups, will study and
compare the history of the voting rights of these two subgroups.
LEARNER OUTCOMES: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter113/ch113b.html#113.22
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter113/ch113b.pdf
Michigan Social Studies Content Expectations (GLCEs)
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/SSGLCE_218368_7.pdf
TIME: This lesson would involve three video conferences, the first to introduce the lesson, and briefly
discuss the 2008 election. The next session would allow time for each group of students to present
their research on the two subgroups of Americans in question (African Americans and women). The third and
final session would take place AFTER the election. The students would have had time to research
what percentages fo black and women voters turned out at the poles. The first and third VC format
would be a point to point discussion, allowing for a free flow of discourse.
PREPARATION: Students will research history using library materials, the Internet, and current newspapers.
MATERIALS: library resources, the Internet, newspapers, photographs, both old and new, of candidates
VIDEOCONFERENCE AGENDA: 50-70 minutes (depending on class periods of participating classes)
5 min. Welcome and introductions. Each class shares their location and brief information
about their school.
Visuals: Use the document camera or PowerPoint to share a few pictures of local interest.
15 min. Share Your Stance. Each student/group briefly shares their stance on the topic.
Visuals: Illustrations enhance the experience if there is time.
25-45 min. Discussion. Students from teach class take turns discussing the issue. Students
should include supporting facts and details from their research in all comments
that they make. Participating classes may wish to assign a student facilitator
for each class to assist in the flow of discussion.
5 min. Debrief and Conclusion. After the discussion, teachers may wish to debrief and
comment on the process and content/curriculum discussed. If time is available,
students may enjoy asking each other questions about their respective locations.
POST ACTIVITIES: The third videoconference will have the students meeting after the election to discuss
how each candidate fared and how each group studied, African Americans and women,
voted in the 2008 elections. The demographics of the 2008 election will be discussed:
percentage of women voting for each candidate; percentage of African American voting
for each candidate.
ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION: The students' learning will be accessed through participation grades,
as well as individually make teacher rubrics to assess the quality of the projects.
The assessment of the use of videoconferencing will come from the student feedback
as well as teacher meetings prior to each videoconference.
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS: All test connections will be made three days prior to the videoconference.
Pre-activities will be done at least one week prior to each videoconference.
This project is designed for two Social Studies classes to participate.
It will occur over a 6 week timeframe. The lead facilitator will be one of the
Campus Instructional Technology Specialist at one of the participating schools.
First Week in October: Introduction of topic between the two participating schools.
Last Week in October: Students will have time to present their research on the two
subgroups that were research.
Mid-November: Students will hold a point-to-point to discuss what percentages of
African-Americans and Women voted and for whom they voted.
Time should be allowed for a free-flow of discourse on the election
in general.
PERSONALITIES/CANDIDATES: The following are candidates that are/were either in the running
or are now running for the presidential/vice-presidential slots according to the “DESCRIPTION”
category earlier in this paper/plan:
Presidential Candidates-Party Vice-Presidential Candidate-Party
Barack Obama-Democrat Sarah Palin-Republican
Hillary Clinton-Democrat
Allan Keyes-Republican
Cynthia McKinney-Green