Middle School Mock Election: Develop a Political Party
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we create a political party and platform that addresses the needs of our school community and reflects a chosen style of government?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- What is a political party and what is its role in a government?
- What are the different styles of government?
- What is a platform?
- What are the most important issues in our school and how can we address them?
- How does government work?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to define political parties and their role in government.
- Students will be able to compare and contrast different styles of government.
- Students will be able to develop a political platform that is balanced and logical.
- Students will be able to identify and address important issues in their school community.
- Students will be able to present their platform to an audience and participate in a mock election.
- Students will understand the basics of how a government operates
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsThe Extreme Candidate Takeover
Students arrive to find their classroom transformed into a bustling campaign headquarters, complete with campaign posters for fictional candidates with extreme (and absurd) platforms. This sets the stage for them to analyze what makes a good platform and how to appeal to voters.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Government Styles & Party Creation
Students research different styles of government (e.g., democracy, republic, autocracy) and political parties. They will then choose a style of government and create a name and logo for their political party. This activity provides a foundation for understanding different governmental systems and political ideologies.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA research report summarizing different styles of government, and a creative brief including their party's name, logo, and chosen style of government.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to define political parties and their role in government. Students will be able to compare and contrast different styles of government.Issue Identification & Prioritization
Students conduct a school-wide survey to identify the most pressing issues in their school community. They analyze the survey results and prioritize the top 3-5 issues to address in their party's platform. This activity ensures that the platform is relevant and responsive to the needs of the students.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA survey report summarizing the key issues in the school community and a prioritized list of issues to address in their platform.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to identify and address important issues in their school community. Students will be able to develop a political platform that is balanced and logical.Policy Proposal Development
Students develop detailed policy proposals to address the prioritized issues. They must ensure that their proposals are aligned with their chosen style of government and are balanced and logical. They will be prompted to consider potential consequences of the platform.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed political platform outlining the party's stance on each of the prioritized issues, including specific policy proposals.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to develop a political platform that is balanced and logical.Platform Presentation & Mock Election
Students prepare and deliver a persuasive speech outlining their party's platform. They participate in a mock election, voting for the party whose platform they find most appealing. Following the election, students reflect on the process and discuss what they learned about political parties and government.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA persuasive speech and participation in a mock election, followed by a reflection paper on the experience.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Students will be able to present their platform to an audience and participate in a mock election. Students will understand the basics of how a government operates.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioPolitical Party & Platform Rubric
Government Styles & Party Creation
Assesses students' understanding of different governmental systems and their ability to create a relevant party identity.Research Depth
Depth of Research on Government Styles: Assesses the thoroughness and accuracy of the student's research on different styles of government.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a comprehensive and insightful understanding of various government styles, going beyond basic definitions and exploring nuances and complexities.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a thorough understanding of different government styles, providing accurate definitions and relevant examples.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of different government styles, with some inaccuracies or omissions in definitions and examples.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a beginning understanding of different government styles, with significant inaccuracies or omissions.
Report Clarity
Clarity of Report: Evaluates the clarity and organization of the research report.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe report is exceptionally clear, concise, and well-organized, presenting information in a logical and engaging manner. Writing is sophisticated and error-free.
Proficient
3 PointsThe report is clear, concise, and well-organized, presenting information in a logical manner. Writing is generally error-free.
Developing
2 PointsThe report is somewhat unclear or disorganized, with some difficulty in following the information. Writing contains some errors.
Beginning
1 PointsThe report is unclear, disorganized, and difficult to follow. Writing contains numerous errors.
Party Identity
Creativity and Relevance of Party Name & Logo: Assesses the creativity and relevance of the party name and logo to the chosen style of government.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe party name and logo are exceptionally creative and highly relevant to the chosen style of government, demonstrating a deep understanding of its principles.
Proficient
3 PointsThe party name and logo are creative and relevant to the chosen style of government, demonstrating a clear understanding of its principles.
Developing
2 PointsThe party name and logo are somewhat creative and relevant to the chosen style of government, demonstrating a basic understanding of its principles.
Beginning
1 PointsThe party name and logo are not creative or relevant to the chosen style of government, demonstrating a limited understanding of its principles.
Issue Identification & Prioritization
Focuses on how well students identify, prioritize, and analyze issues relevant to their school community through surveys and data analysis.Survey Design
Survey Design Quality: Assesses the quality and effectiveness of the survey in identifying important issues.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe survey is exceptionally well-designed, comprehensive, and effectively targets the most important issues in the school community. Questions are clear, unbiased, and relevant.
Proficient
3 PointsThe survey is well-designed and effectively identifies important issues in the school community. Questions are clear and relevant.
Developing
2 PointsThe survey is adequately designed but may have some limitations in identifying important issues in the school community. Some questions may be unclear or irrelevant.
Beginning
1 PointsThe survey is poorly designed and ineffective in identifying important issues in the school community. Questions are unclear, biased, or irrelevant.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis and Prioritization: Evaluates the accuracy and effectiveness of the data analysis and prioritization process.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe data analysis is exceptionally thorough and insightful, leading to a clear and well-justified prioritization of the most important issues.
Proficient
3 PointsThe data analysis is thorough and leads to a clear prioritization of the most important issues.
Developing
2 PointsThe data analysis is adequate but may have some limitations in accuracy or completeness, leading to a less clear prioritization of issues.
Beginning
1 PointsThe data analysis is incomplete or inaccurate, leading to a poorly justified prioritization of issues.
Issue Relevance
Relevance and Impact of Identified Issues: Assesses the relevance and potential impact of the identified issues on the school community.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe identified issues are exceptionally relevant and have a significant potential impact on the school community, demonstrating a deep understanding of student needs.
Proficient
3 PointsThe identified issues are relevant and have a clear potential impact on the school community.
Developing
2 PointsThe identified issues are somewhat relevant and may have a limited impact on the school community.
Beginning
1 PointsThe identified issues are not relevant and have little to no impact on the school community.
Policy Proposal Development
Evaluates students' ability to develop a logical, feasible, and balanced political platform aligned with their chosen government style.Government Alignment
Alignment with Government Style: Assesses how well the policy proposals align with the chosen style of government.
Exemplary
4 PointsAll policy proposals are perfectly aligned with the chosen style of government, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of its principles and implications.
Proficient
3 PointsAll policy proposals are clearly aligned with the chosen style of government.
Developing
2 PointsMost policy proposals are generally aligned with the chosen style of government, but some may have minor inconsistencies.
Beginning
1 PointsPolicy proposals are not aligned with the chosen style of government.
Proposal Logic
Feasibility and Logic of Proposals: Evaluates the feasibility and logical soundness of the policy proposals.
Exemplary
4 PointsAll policy proposals are exceptionally feasible, well-reasoned, and logically sound, with a clear plan for implementation and evaluation.
Proficient
3 PointsAll policy proposals are feasible, well-reasoned, and logically sound.
Developing
2 PointsMost policy proposals are feasible and logically sound, but some may have minor flaws or require further development.
Beginning
1 PointsPolicy proposals are not feasible or logically sound.
Platform Depth
Depth and Balance of Platform: Assesses the depth and balance of the overall political platform.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe political platform is exceptionally deep, comprehensive, and balanced, addressing all prioritized issues with innovative and well-considered solutions.
Proficient
3 PointsThe political platform is thorough, comprehensive, and balanced, addressing all prioritized issues with effective solutions.
Developing
2 PointsThe political platform is somewhat comprehensive and balanced, but may lack depth or detail in some areas.
Beginning
1 PointsThe political platform is incomplete, unbalanced, and lacks depth and detail.
Platform Presentation & Mock Election
Assesses students' ability to present their platform persuasively, engage in the mock election, and reflect on the overall learning experience.Speech Persuasion
Persuasiveness of Speech: Assesses the persuasiveness and effectiveness of the speech in conveying the party's platform.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe speech is exceptionally persuasive, engaging, and effectively conveys the party's platform with passion and conviction.
Proficient
3 PointsThe speech is persuasive and effectively conveys the party's platform.
Developing
2 PointsThe speech is somewhat persuasive but may lack clarity or engagement in some areas.
Beginning
1 PointsThe speech is not persuasive and fails to effectively convey the party's platform.
Election Engagement
Engagement in Mock Election: Evaluates the student's active and respectful participation in the mock election.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe student actively and respectfully participates in the mock election, demonstrating leadership and a commitment to the democratic process.
Proficient
3 PointsThe student actively and respectfully participates in the mock election.
Developing
2 PointsThe student participates in the mock election but may be somewhat disengaged or disrespectful.
Beginning
1 PointsThe student does not participate in the mock election or is disrespectful.
Reflection Depth
Depth of Reflection: Assesses the depth and insightfulness of the student's reflection on the experience.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe reflection is exceptionally insightful and demonstrates a deep understanding of the political process and the challenges of developing and presenting a political platform.
Proficient
3 PointsThe reflection is insightful and demonstrates a clear understanding of the political process.
Developing
2 PointsThe reflection is somewhat superficial and demonstrates a limited understanding of the political process.
Beginning
1 PointsThe reflection is superficial and demonstrates little to no understanding of the political process.