Overview
Government class was able to learn and experience the Presidency in a new and interesting fashion this year. Students were given the chance to share their democratic voice in multiple ways. They had the opportunity to create a presidential candidate, learn and discuss various political issues, focus on the power of the presidential position and how to use that power to create change, and ultimately students were able to cast a vote.
Operation
Student worked together to brainstorm the traits they believed would make a great president. They focused on everything from upbringing and family, to education and work experience. The assignment was then to create a fictitious person who would represent these qualities and traits the students wanted a candidate to posses. They worked collaboratively to write a resume for their candidate, identify major party issues as well as the position their candidate would take on them, and put forth an agenda and platform that their candidate would work towards accomplishing should they be elected.
An life like outline of their candidate was then created and students filled in the space with all the information they had collected. This made it possible for students from other classes to have an opportunity to get to know both candidates.
Then on Election Day as classes were held students were given the chance to vote for one of the two candidates.
Outcome
This activity enabled students to see the person behind the position. It was amazing to see and hear how serious they were when it came to construction their fictitious candidates. They focused on so many aspects of their personality and character and conveyed how these traits would enable their candidate to be effective in the position.
Another outcome was the way they wrestled with resolving who to vote for. Both of the candidates certainly leaned in opposite directions, but the specific issues and the powers they would use to promote them caused many students to be wary of who their vote would support.
Ultimately, this activity allowed students to feel the democratic process, see the impact of decisions, and realize the power of the position in a way they would never have been able to through a flat text.
