Activity Overview
Discuss the importance of the president of the United States and how a citizen can become president. Students can activate prior knowledge in a class-wide or small-group discussion with or without the use of a KWL chart.
Students will create a storyboard that shows the sequence of events necessary for becoming president. They can use a current or past candidate, themselves, or a fictitious character. Important events may include:
- Campaign
- Primary
- Caucus
- National Convention
- General Election
- Electoral College
- Inauguration
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that shows the steps for a person to become the president.
Student Instructions: Describe the sequence of events necessary to become president. Consider using information on the inauguration, primary, and general election, voting, a national convention, political parties, candidates, and the Electoral College.
Requirements: Storyboard should be colorful, show facts, any dates, and correct sequences.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Content | Events are clearly described and important. No major events are missing. | Most of the included events are important and clearly described. One or more major events are missing. | Several major events are missing. Events are not clearly described or not important to becoming president. |
| Sequence Fluency | Events are in proper order | Almost all events are in proper order. | Most events are incorrectly placed on chart. |
| Quality of Facts | Events are are related to the topic studied and there are at least 6-8 facts | The chart contains at least 4-5 facts that relate to the topic. | The chart contains fewer than 4 facts and some facts may or may not be related to the subject. |
Activity Overview
Discuss the importance of the president of the United States and how a citizen can become president. Students can activate prior knowledge in a class-wide or small-group discussion with or without the use of a KWL chart.
Students will create a storyboard that shows the sequence of events necessary for becoming president. They can use a current or past candidate, themselves, or a fictitious character. Important events may include:
- Campaign
- Primary
- Caucus
- National Convention
- General Election
- Electoral College
- Inauguration
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that shows the steps for a person to become the president.
Student Instructions: Describe the sequence of events necessary to become president. Consider using information on the inauguration, primary, and general election, voting, a national convention, political parties, candidates, and the Electoral College.
Requirements: Storyboard should be colorful, show facts, any dates, and correct sequences.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of Content | Events are clearly described and important. No major events are missing. | Most of the included events are important and clearly described. One or more major events are missing. | Several major events are missing. Events are not clearly described or not important to becoming president. |
| Sequence Fluency | Events are in proper order | Almost all events are in proper order. | Most events are incorrectly placed on chart. |
| Quality of Facts | Events are are related to the topic studied and there are at least 6-8 facts | The chart contains at least 4-5 facts that relate to the topic. | The chart contains fewer than 4 facts and some facts may or may not be related to the subject. |
How Tos about Steps to Become President
How to Lead a Classroom Election Simulation
Engage students in the presidential process by simulating an election in your classroom. Hands-on activities help students connect with civics and understand real-world voting.
Assign roles for candidates, campaign staff, and voters
Let students choose or be assigned roles such as presidential candidates, campaign managers, and voters. This promotes participation and helps students practice public speaking and teamwork.
Guide students in creating campaign messages and materials
Have each candidate develop a campaign speech and simple posters. This step builds persuasive writing skills and encourages creative expression.
Host a classroom debate and campaign event
Set up a time for candidates to share their speeches and answer questions from classmates. Students learn respectful listening and how to evaluate ideas.
Conduct a secret ballot and tally the votes together
Run a mock election using paper ballots or an online tool. Counting votes as a class reinforces math skills and demonstrates fair voting procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions about Steps to Become President
What are the steps for becoming president of the United States?
To become president, a person must first meet eligibility requirements, then campaign, participate in primaries and caucuses, be nominated at the national convention, compete in the general election, win the Electoral College, and finally be inaugurated.
How can I teach students the process of becoming president?
You can guide students through a storyboard activity that illustrates each step in the presidential election process, including campaigning, primaries, conventions, the general election, Electoral College, and inauguration.
What is the role of the Electoral College in electing the president?
The Electoral College is a body of representatives from each state who formally cast votes for the president and vice president based on the outcome of the general election in their state.
What should a presidential election storyboard include for a 4th or 5th grader?
A storyboard should show key events like campaigning, primaries, national convention, general election, Electoral College, and inauguration, using facts, dates, and colorful illustrations in the correct order.
Why is it important for students to learn about the presidential election process?
Understanding the presidential election process helps students become informed citizens, appreciate the importance of voting, and understand how leaders are chosen in a democracy.
More Storyboard That Activities
How to Become President
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