HNET - Hofstra Network of Elementary Teachers

Educate '08:
Analyzing and Teaching the 2008 Elections

Sources compiled by Andrea S. Libresco and Jonie Kipling

INFORMATION

Finding Reliable And Alternative Sources

• Annenberg Political Fact Check
  (Non-partisan organization checks on candidates' information in ads, speeches, debates)
  http://www.factcheck.org
• The War, The Press, and Democracy
  (Media coverage of the war in Iraq)
  http://www.puaf.umd.edu/IPPP/iraq/
• The World Votes
  (World citizens weigh in on US elections)
  http://www.theworldvotes.org/
• National Priorities Project
  (Ongoing "clock" shows alternatives to spending on the Iraq War)
  http://costofwar.com/
• Truthout
  (News articles with a liberal bent from around the country and the world)
  http://www.truthout.org/
• The Daily Mis-lead
  (Corrects information from the Bush White House, complete with footnotes)
  http://daily.misleader.org/join/
• MoveOn
  (Builds electronic advocacy groups around different issues like campaign finance, environmental and energy issues, media consolidation, or the Iraq war. Once a group is assembled, MoveOn provides information and tools to help each individual have the greatest possible impact – openly asking for support of Obama)
  http://www.moveon.org/front/

General Information About Elections

• NBC Decision '08
  (NBC News responds to questions about the presidential election from students.)
  http://www.hotchalk.com/index_decision08.html
• United States Presidential Elections
  (Information on history of elections, voting process, current stories)
  www.multied.com/elections/
• PBS - By the People – Election
  (Variety of information – glossary of election terms, articles analyzing 2004 elections, parties, issues, candidates)
  http://www.pbs.org/elections/webRoundup.php
• Elections and Voting – Subject Resource Guide
  (Hofstra library sites - tons of links, well-organized)
  http://www.hofstra.edu/Libraries/Axinn/axinn_srg_elections_voting.cfm
• National Council for the Social Studies - Elections
  (Clearinghouse site - lots of resources, websites - not yet updated for 2008)
  http://www.socialstudies.org/election/

Information About Voting

• Federal Election Commission
  (Federal election commission answers questions about voter registration and voting)
  http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers.shtml
• Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
  (Voter turnout charts and maps)
  http://www.civicyouth.org/
• United States Census Bureau – Voting and Registration
  (Detailed tables on reported voting and registration by various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics)
  http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html
• Vote Smart
  (Links to your local reps and senators)
  www.Votesmart.com

Information About The Electoral College

• National Archives - U.S. Electoral College
  (National archives site contains good historical information and lessons)
  http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/
• How the Electoral College Works
  (Brief article explains how the electoral college works)
  http://people.howstuffworks.com/electoral-college1.htm

Information About Issues

•  U.S. Election 2008 Campaign Issues
  (Provides an interesting list and explanation of issues for the elections but does not provide candidates' points of view)
  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S._presidential_election%2C_2008:_Campaign_Issues
• Campaign Issues 2008
  (Good source of issues with candidates' positions)
  http://www.issue2008.com/
• CNN Election Center 2008
  (Another good site for issues and candidates)
  http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
• On the Issues – Every Political Leader on Every Issue
  (Provides non-partisan information on issues and candidates)
  http://www.issues2000.org/
• Political parties' platforms
  (They won't be available until the summer, but, when they are, google "Democratic Party Platform" and "Republican Party Platform)" to find out where the two major parties (and other parties) stand on the major issues of the day.)

ACTIVITIES

General Sites for Activities

• Teachable Moment
  (Educators for Social Responsibility has election activities for all grade levels)
  http://www.teachablemoment.org/index.html
• The Democracy Project - PBS
  (What the president does, how voting affects us, how government works)
  http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/
• Constitutional Rights Foundation – Election Central
  (Lessons, readings, activities, links)
  http://www.crf-usa.org/election_central/election_central.htm

Political Spectrum Tests

• VoteChooser
  (Take the 10 question quiz to see how your own views match those of all the remaining candidates)
  http://www.votechooser.com/
• Washington Post - Choose Your Candidate
  (Democratic and Republican quizzes on issues help you find out which candidate's views in your party match most closely with your own)
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/candidatequiz/
• VoteMatch Quiz
  (20-question quiz that matches your views to the candidates' views)
  http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp?quiz=2008#sec0
• Spectrum Test
  (Several tests to take to see where you are on the political spectrum and which candidates' views most closely match your own)
  http://www.district94.dupage.k12.il.us/social_studies/political_spectrum/spectrum_test.htm
• Electoral Compass – Wall Street Journal
  (35-question test matches your views to the candidates' views)
  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119939661834265699.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_rightbox

Analyzing Advertisements, Political Cartoons, Websites, etc.

• The Living Room Candidate – Presidential Ads 1952-2004
  (Videos of historic ads)
  http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php
• Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonists Index
  (Hundreds of current cartoons on a variety of topics, organized by issue and cartoonist.)
  http://cagle.msnbc.com/
• The Savvy Voter
  (PBS site on how to view critically: the news, ads, debates, platforms, polls and websites)
  http://www.pbs.org/elections/savvyvoter.html

Electoral College Tally

• Electoral College and Map Generator
  (Allows you to record electoral votes as they are awarded)
  http://uselectionatlas.org/TOOLS/evcalc.php
• U.S. Presidential Election Results
  (Interactive site of historical election results by year and state, showing popular and electoral votes statistically and on a map)
  http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
• National Archives - U.S. Electoral College
  (National archives site shows how to tally electoral college)
  www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/calculator.html
• 270 to Win
  Interactive map of electoral votes
  http://www.270towin.com/

Mock Elections

• Take Your Kids to Vote
  (Activities to show that democracy is not a spectator sport)
  www.takeyourkidstovote.org/youth/index.htm
• National Student – Parent Mock Election
  (Participate in a nationwide election on October 30, 2008)
  http://www.nationalmockelection.com/

ELEMENTARY FOCUS

• Adventures of Cyberbee
  (A variety of election lessons and links at the elementary level great)
  http://www.cyberbee.com
• Electing a President
  (A variety of activities and links at the elementary level)
  http://www.pocanticohills.org/election/election.htm
• Congress for Kids
  (Good information site on how Congress works and gets elected)
  http://www.congressforkids.net/Elections_index.htm
• Kids Konnect
  (Good site for information about presidents with links to other sites)
  http://www.kidskonnect.com/content/view/359/27/
• Ben's Guide to Government
  (Information about election process, grades 3-5)
  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/election/index.html
• Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
  (Information about election process, grades k-2)
  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/index.html
• Scholastic News – Countdown to Election 2008
  (Information, activities, reports from the campaign trail, etc.)
  http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/election2008.htm
• Time for Kids Election Connection 2008
  (Where candidates stand on the issues, activities, etc.)
  http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids08/

POLITICAL PARTIES' WEBSITES

• The Democratic Party
  http://www.democrats.org/index.html
• The Republican Party
  http://www.rnc.org/
• The Green Party
  http://www.greens.org/

BOOKS

For children:

• D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet by Elissa Grodin and Vitor Jahasz
  (Excellent, upper level book emphasizes the importance of asking questions in a democracy, and the purpose of taxes, among other things.)
• The Day Gogo Went to Vote by Eleanor Batezat Sisulu.  
  (LOVE this book about the first time after apartheid was over when the narrator's grandmother goes to vote – beautiful pictures and story.)
• My Teacher for President by Kay Winters and Denise Brunkus
  (Second grader who has been learning about the president's job, thinks that his teacher would be the perfect candidate, given her qualifications. Delightful and amusing.)
• Vote by Eileen Christelow
  (Accessible introduction to voting through a mayoral election in which the mother of a young, African American girl is one of the candidates, while two humorous dogs provide commentary on the action.)
• We the People (elementary level), Center for Civic Education.
  (Excellent softcover text on how U.S. government was formed and works.)
• Woodrow for President: A Tail of Voting, Campaigns, and Elections
  by Peter W. Barnes, Cheryl Shaw Barnes.
  (Mouse running for pres in rhyme is only okay.)
• You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? by Jean Fritz, Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan  
  (I generally like Jean Fritz, but this one is only okay.)

For citizens:

• America(the book): A citizen's guide to democracy inaction by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country: How to find your political voice and become a catalyst for change by MoveOn.Org.
• The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A citizen's guide to hope in a time of fear edited by Paul Rogat Loeb.