Activity Overview
During any election, it's important to understand both sides and their beliefs. While studying the 1980 Presidential Election, students will find it helpful to compare and contrast the Democratic and Republican parties, namely Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Students will use a T Chart to highlight each candidate, their positions, ideas on foreign and domestic policy, and ideologies. From this, students will be able to analyze how and why each candidate fared the way they did politically and specifically during this election.
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Extension Activity
Have students create a grid storyboard to detail what principles and ideas are a part of major terms like liberalism and conservatism. This will allow students to gain a better understanding of what exactly constitute the core ideas of each ideology and political position, and how these principles factored into the 1980 election.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard comparing the candidates of the 1980 Presidential Election.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first column, describe the ideology and domestic and foreign policies for Ronald Reagan.
- Do the same for Jimmy Carter in the second column.
- Create illustrations using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
During any election, it's important to understand both sides and their beliefs. While studying the 1980 Presidential Election, students will find it helpful to compare and contrast the Democratic and Republican parties, namely Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Students will use a T Chart to highlight each candidate, their positions, ideas on foreign and domestic policy, and ideologies. From this, students will be able to analyze how and why each candidate fared the way they did politically and specifically during this election.
Students Can Collaborate!
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Extension Activity
Have students create a grid storyboard to detail what principles and ideas are a part of major terms like liberalism and conservatism. This will allow students to gain a better understanding of what exactly constitute the core ideas of each ideology and political position, and how these principles factored into the 1980 election.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard comparing the candidates of the 1980 Presidential Election.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first column, describe the ideology and domestic and foreign policies for Ronald Reagan.
- Do the same for Jimmy Carter in the second column.
- Create illustrations using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about The Emergence of the New Right: Election of 1980
Incorporate primary sources to deepen political analysis
Bring authentic historical voices into your lesson by assigning students to examine campaign speeches, debate clips, or newspaper articles from the 1980 election. Primary sources help students develop critical thinking and support their arguments with real evidence.
Guide students to cite evidence for their T Chart claims
Remind students to always back up their statements about each candidate’s positions with specific quotes or data from their research or provided sources. This habit strengthens analytical skills and models evidence-based reasoning in social studies.
Encourage peer review sessions for deeper understanding
Arrange for students to swap T Charts with classmates and give constructive feedback on accuracy and completeness. Peer review builds confidence, fosters collaborative learning, and uncovers points students may have missed.
Facilitate a class debate using completed T Charts
Organize a friendly debate where small groups defend either Reagan or Carter using their research. This active discussion boosts speaking skills, encourages respectful discourse, and makes history memorable and engaging.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Emergence of the New Right: Election of 1980
How can I teach students to compare Reagan and Carter in the 1980 election?
Use a T Chart to help students visually compare Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter on their ideologies and domestic and foreign policies. This approach fosters critical analysis and makes differences between the candidates clear.
What is a T Chart and how is it used in lessons about the 1980 election?
A T Chart is a graphic organizer that allows students to list and contrast information side-by-side. For the 1980 election, students can use it to organize and compare each candidate's political positions, policies, and ideologies for deeper understanding.
What are the main differences between liberalism and conservatism in the 1980 election?
Liberalism (Carter) emphasized government intervention in the economy and social programs, while conservatism (Reagan) promoted limited government, lower taxes, and a stronger national defense. Comparing these helps students grasp each candidate’s core principles.
How do I enable collaboration for students on a storyboard assignment?
To enable Real Time Collaboration in Storyboard That, go to the Edit Assignment tab and turn on collaboration. This allows students to work together on the same storyboard, enhancing teamwork and communication skills.
What extension activities can deepen students' understanding of the 1980 election?
Encourage students to create a grid storyboard exploring concepts like liberalism and conservatism. This helps them connect political ideologies to the election and understand key terms in context.
More Storyboard That Activities
Presidency of Ronald Reagan
- US National Flag and California State Flag, City Hall, Santa Monica • euthman • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
