Lesson Plan - What If You Were President? 

Build Background Knowledge

Before reading the article, prompt students to complete the following statement: If I were president, the first change I would make would be _____ because _____. Remind students that their responses should be serious and focused on a real issue affecting the country or world today. Set a two-minute timer for this task. Students can turn and talk with a peer to share their responses or share them with the class.

Preview Vocabulary

Use the Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms Congress, Constitution, Democratic, fossil fuel, House of Representatives, Independent, investment, popular vote, Republican, Senate, Supreme Court, and third party. Have students refer to the Skill Builder as they read.

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. Direct students to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they are unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

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

• Based on paragraphs 1-2 on page 9, what is the main purpose of the article? (Author’s Purpose) 
The main purpose of the article is likely to inform readers about the power of voicing their ideas as Americans. The authors invite readers to reflect on their hopes for the country because one day the readers will be the ones voting and leading the United States.

• Review the top 10 answers to the question “What are the most important qualities in a U.S. president?” What is another skill or quality that is not on the list that you think is important for a U.S. president to have? Explain. (Key Details) 
Possible answer: Another important skill for a U.S. president to have is decision making. The president must be good at making decisions because that is a huge part of the president’s job. The president must be able to weigh possible outcomes of decisions before making them and then choose what is best for the country.

• In response to the question “When you think about the future of the United States, what’s most important to you?,” seventh-grader Josh Walker mentions education. He states, “The next generation has to be well-educated.” Explain whether you agree or disagree and why.  (Supporting Claims) 
Possible answer: I agree with Josh Walker’s statement that the next generation must be well-educated because the next generation will have a role in shaping the country. Today’s kids and teens will one day be the country’s leaders and voters. Since citizens have the power to use their voices, to lead, and to create change in the U.S., they must be informed about critical issues affecting the country.

• Given students’ responses to the questions on pages 10-11, summarize the concerns and hopes of most students who participated in the interview. (Summarizing) 
Most students who participated in the interview are concerned with issues that affect the safety and well-being of the planet and all Americans. They want to protect the environment for people and wildlife. They also want to make sure every person has a home and food. Many of the students hope the next president will prioritize issues like the environment, inflation, and helping people in need.  

• Using the guide on pages 12-13, identify how the number of U.S. representatives is decided for each state. Then use the map “What Else Is At Stake?” to determine which three states have the highest populations. List them in order from highest to lowest, and explain how you found your answer. (Analyzing a Graphic) 
The number of representatives each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives is determined by the size of that state’s population. States with smaller populations have fewer U.S. representatives. States with larger populations have more U.S. representatives. Based on that information and the map, I can conclude that the three states with the highest populations are California, Texas, and Florida because those states have the most U.S. representatives. 

• Identify key differences between the popular vote and the Electoral College vote. (Comparing Terms) 
The popular vote refers to the ballots cast by Americans on or before Election Day. The popular vote doesn’t allow voters to directly choose the president, but it does determine which party’s electors will represent their state in the Electoral College vote. The Electoral College vote is based on the results of the popular vote, and its outcome decides the next president. The Electoral College vote is done in December by electors in each state. Each state’s number of electors participating in the vote is based on how many members that state has in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. 

Analyze a Video 

Direct students to watch the video “America’s Two-Party System” on junior.scholastic.com. Pose the following questions after students view the video: What are the two major political parties in the U.S.? Why might some people feel that having only two major parties does not represent the diversity of American society? Do you think change is needed? Why or why not? 

Your Turn: Research Candidates 

Direct students to the “Your Turn” research prompt at the end of the article. Invite students to use the Skill Builder Research Toolkit to guide them as they research two candidates running for local or state office where they live.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.