On 4/30/08, Cybrary Man wrote:
> Carrying a mock school wide election that your students
> organize using a computer program.
>
> Analysis of campaign ads, speeches, platforms, etc.
>
> I have links for election websites on the Elections
> page on my website.
>
> Election Links
> http://www.angelfire.com/stars3/education/elections.html
>
> You can also access the Election page by clicking on the link
> below to my homepage and then click under Social Studies
>
>
> Cybrary Man –
> Making your teaching life easier one website at a time!
>
Hello! My name is Helen Joyce and I am a recently retired
Social Studies teacher/high school administrator from New
Hampshire. Several years ago, my Social Studies colleagues and I
implemented a program which simulated the Presidential election
and campaign, culminating in a school-wide rally and mock
election. In this program, students took on the role of the
Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, along with their
respective campaign staffs.
In 2000, while Social Studies Chair at Sanborn Regional HS, I
created an actual Elections course which impacted virtually
every department at the high school and resulted in a truly
interdisciplinary program. In addition, students from every
academic ability were involved either directly in the class
itself or in some other capacity of the Presidential campaign.
The program received state-wide attention and awards from WMUR-
TV and even attracted the attention of Vanessa Kerry, who spoke
at the 2004 rally at Sanborn.
The program is currently featured in the March edition of Social
Education, the journal for the National Council for the Social
Studies.
I have been conducting workshops (gratis) in New Hampshire
(NHCSS) and in Boston for teachers who are interested in
implementing such a class for the fall of 2008. The program can
also be implemented through other existing Social Studies
courses and not necessarily as a separate entity. While the
program is designed for high school students, it can also be
modified for talented middle-school youngsters.
I have attached a copy of the flyer, which has been given out at
several state-wide Social Studies conferences this fall. If you
could share this with your Social Studies teachers and have them
contact me at hjoyce2@comcast.net, I would be happy to share
many of the documents that I have provided at my workshops via e-
mail.
Thank you for your time...I truly believe in this program as it
is an incredible experience for students and teachers alike.
Sincerely,
Helen Joyce
>