“Evaluating Political Candidates Activity”

Today’s Goal Students will be able to engage in a practice activity to connect what they already know about constitutional qualifications and evaluating candidates regarding Presidential Qualifications (both Constitutional and Personal) in order to identify which of the “new” candidates is the best/least qualified to be elected President. Why is it important that we be able to evaluate Presidential qualifications?

Declarative and/or Procedural Knowledge Student Scale of Knowledge SS.7.C.2.9 – Evaluate Candidates for Political Office by analyzing their qualifications… Levels Declarative and/or Procedural Knowledge Level 4 In addition to Level 3, Students will be able to: Students will examine candidates and determine how those elected can impact society. Level 3 The student understands and is able to: Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, and platforms. Students will be able to analyze and/or evaluate candidates for public office based on their qualifications, experience, and platforms. The student exhibits no major errors or omissions. Level 2 There are no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes as the student is able to: Students will identify the constitutional requirements to run for federal, state, or local political office. Students will identify additional qualifications of candidates for public office. However, the student exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes. Level 1 With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes the student is able to: Students will define vocabulary related to candidates including, but not limited to; constitutional requirements for office and political office. Level 0 Even with help, no understanding or skill demonstrated.

Phase One: What We Know Working Individually Identify the constitutional qualifications for President based on what we have already learned (You may use your notes)

Phase One: What We Think Make an Inference: Knowing what the job of the President requires, think of some typical characteristics that YOU think would be necessary in a Presidential Candidate. (list 3 on your Activity Sheet)

Phase Two: Expand your individual thinking………….. Take a moment and look over the additional characteristics listed on your Activity Sheet under Phase 2. Vocabulary Review of Characteristics Now, make a linkage with your prior knowledge and circle the characteristics that you think are important to consider before electing a President. Be prepared to explain and defend your choices.

Explain & Defend Your Choices Let’s talk about each of the characteristics listed on your Activity Sheet. Age Religion Gender Education Character Occupation Appearance Personality Ethnicity Health Marital Status Number of Children Police Record

Phase Three: Making Predictions – Who Would YOU Choose? On your own – read and review the new information about prospective candidates in the Bio Data Handout Choose two candidates that you think are the 1 - best qualified based on your prior knowledge and opinion. 2 – least qualified based on your prior knowledge and opinion.

Phase Four: Group Consensus (Collaborative Processing – Linking what you know to what we’re learning) As a group, come to consensus (reach an agreement) about the one BEST and the one LEAST qualified candidate. Be sure to justify your reasoning and be prepared to defend your group’s choices. Be prepared for your group to add their perspective as we tally the results!

The Results Are In! Defend your selections……. Best Qualified Least Qualified Candidate #1 – Candidate #2 – Candidate #3 – Candidate # 4 – Candidate # 5 – Candidate # 6 – Candidate # 7 – Candidate #8 – Candidate #9 – Candidate #10 – Candidate #1 – Candidate #2 – Candidate #3 – Candidate # 4 – Candidate # 5 – Candidate # 6 – Candidate # 7 – Candidate #8 – Candidate #9 – Candidate #10 –

Are you ready to find out who they are?!? Identities Revealed! These biographies are based on prominent Americans of today and yesterday. Information from the data sheet is based on each “candidates” peak moment in their careers…. Are you ready to find out who they are?!?

Candidate #1 Bernie Sanders Author, Senator

Candidate #2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend; Civil Rights Activist

Candidate #3 Ted Cruz Associate Deputy Attorney General, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bush, Solicitor General of Texas, Professor, U.S. Senate

Candidate #4 President Barack Obama 44th President of the United States

Candidate #5 Oprah Winfrey Entrepreneur, Media mogul, philanthropist, Author, Business owner

Candidate #6 Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd President

Candidate #7 Arnold Schwarznegger Actor; Former Governor of California

Candidate #8 Donald Trump Entrepreneur, Real Estate Mogul, TV Personality, Business Owner

Candidate #9 George W. Bush - 43rd President of the United States

Candidate #10 Hillary Clinton First Lady/Wife of President Clinton; Former Senator and Secretary of State (Obama)

Extending What We Learned Writing a Reflection Now that we have examined the candidates identities, would you change your selections? Why or why not? Does the newly learned information influence your original thoughts about the necessary qualifications? (Write down your answers/thoughts on the back of your Activity Sheet) Levels Declarative and/or Procedural Knowledge Level 4 In addition to Level 3, Students will be able to: Students will examine candidates and determine how those elected can impact society. Level 3 The student understands and is able to: Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, and platforms. Students will be able to analyze and/or evaluate candidates for public office based on their qualifications, experience, and platforms. The student exhibits no major errors or omissions. Level 2 There are no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes as the student is able to: Students will identify the constitutional requirements to run for federal, state, or local political office. Students will identify additional qualifications of candidates for public office. However, the student exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes. Level 1 With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes the student is able to: Students will define vocabulary related to candidates including, but not limited to; constitutional requirements for office and political office. Level 0 Even with help, no understanding or skill demonstrated.