Lesson Plan - The Road to the White House

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will read an article to learn about the presidential election process and analyze a map showing primary and caucus dates.

Curriculum Connections

• Elections

• Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions, and Debates

• Electoral College

• Political Parties

• Civic Involvement

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Understand the importance of elections

• Study the ideals and practices of citizenship

• Analyze a map

English Language Arts:

• Learn and use domain-specific vocabulary

• Integrate information presented in multiple formats

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

1. Preparing to Read

Build Knowledge and Vocabulary

Before reading the article, have students take the five-question Prereading Quiz at junior.scholastic.com. The interactive quiz is self-scoring and will give an explanation after students answer each question. Then use the Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms from the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they’re unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• What’s the difference between primaries and caucuses? Why do they matter? (Domain-Specific Vocabulary)
In a primary, voters can go to the polls or use the mail to cast a secret ballot. In a caucus, voters gather in a public place and talk about the party’s candidates before they vote. Both types of contests are important because they allow voters to participate in the presidential election process and help determine who will become the official nominees for the two main political parties.

• When is Election Day? What happens between then and the inauguration? (Sequencing Events)
This year, Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. That’s the last chance for voters to cast a ballot for president, the House of Representatives, some Senate seats, and other offices. For president and vice president, voters technically choose electors, who gather on Tuesday, December 17, to cast the official votes. On January 6, Congress counts the electoral votes and formally announces the winner. The president doesn’t start the new four-year presidential term until the inauguration on January 20, when they take the oath of office.

• How does the map support the article? (Text Features)
The map supports the article by showing when each state is holding its contests, starting on January 15 and ending on June 4. It reveals that primaries are more common. Three states have only caucuses, and six states have a primary and a caucus.

3. Skill Building

Analyze a Map

Assign the Skill Builder Map Reading: When Are the Contests Where I Live? to have students answer 10 questions about a map showing dates for this year’s primaries and caucuses. You might challenge fast finishers to write two additional questions and swap with a classmate. Review responses.

Assess Comprehension

Use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Printable Lesson Plan

Interactive Slide Deck

Text-to-Speech