Terry Negin

Computer Teacher – Lincoln Roosevelt School

Roxbury Township Public Schools

 "Who Can Vote?  Election 2000"

Topic

In 2000, we will be voting for a new president and a New Jersey senator.  In order for an eligible voter to cast a ballot on Election Day, that voter must be registered.  Each state in our nation has special registration laws and qualifications that apply to residents who vote.  In this lesson, students will use the Internet to research their state’s voting requirements.  Next, they will practice filling out a Voter Registration Form by downloading it from the Internet.  Also, they will examine the Unite States Constitution to see the requirements for Congress and Presidential candidates. Finally, they will report their findings using a word processor, Microsoft Word.

Grade Level

            This lesson is designed to use with sixth graders.

Objectives

1.      The student will log onto the Internet and Research the voting requirements of their state.

2.      The student will down load and practice filling out a Voter Registration Form from New Jersey.

3.      The student will use the Internet to examine the United States Constitution

4.      The student will use Microsoft Word to report their findings.

Links to Standards

New Jersey CCCS

Social Studies

6.1    All students will learn democratic citizenship and how to participate in the constitutional system of government of the United States.

Cumulative Progress Indicators

1.      Identify key principles embodied in the United States Constitution, and discuss their application in specific situations.

2.      Identify examples of the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

11.  Apply knowledge of government structure and process to school, town, and community life.

Cross-Content Workplace Readiness

STANDARD 2            ALL STUDENTS WILL USE INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND OTHER TOOLS.

        Cumulative Progress Indicators

        All students will be able to:

1.      Understand how technological systems function.

2.       Select appropriate tools and technology for specific activities.

3.      Demonstrate skills needed to effectively access and use technology-based materials through keyboarding, troubleshooting, and information systems.

 5.   Access technology-based communication and information systems.

 8.   Use technology and other tools, including word-processing, spreadsheet and  

       presentation programs, and print or graphic utilities, to produce products.

9.      Use technology to present designs and results of investigations.

Technology Resources

                New Jersey’s Homepage http://www.state.nj.us

          New Jersey’s homepage offers some information about upcoming elections.

            It will help to build a background that will help students begin to understand

            the process and its significance.  It gives the students up-to-date information about 

            the state and the community.

The United States Constitution

http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html

This is an on-line copy of  The United States Constitution.  The student can go to this site and find out the requirements for Congress and Presidential candidates. It’s a good site for further research on voting rights.

An Introduction to the U.S. Government

http://www.vote-smart.org/reference/primer

Click on “Elections” in the list of hyperlinks on this site.  It shows a list

of election and voting vocabulary with definitions.  This site is also a good primer for students to use as they learn about the election process.

Federal Election Commission, State Voter Registration Requirements

http://www.fec.gov/pages/Voteinst.htm

Are you permitted to vote?  This Web site of the Federal Election Commission

lists the requirements for each state. Students can check out their state’s requirements for voting.  They can also compare different states’ requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions about Voter Registration and Voting

http://www.fec.gov/pages/faqs.htm

How old do you need to be in order to vote?  How long do you need to live at a residence before you can vote?  When and where do you vote?  This is the place to go for frequently asked questions about voter registration and voting.

New Jersey’s Voter Registration Form

www.state.nj.us/state/gif/votereg.gif

This site contains a copy of The New Jersey voter Registration Form. Students are to download, print, and fill out.  Thus, gaining practice on filling out a voter registration form.

Voting & Elections: Voting in America

http://www.thisnation.com/processes-voting.html

This is an excellent site that is a comprehensive guide to American Government and politics on the Net.  It offers great graphics, colors, and hyperlinks.  Its text is well suited for grade six students.

Materials

            Internet Accessible Computer

            Internet

            Printer

            “Microsoft Word”

            Worksheet – “Who Can Vote?”

Description of Plan

·        Discuss the upcoming elections and survey the knowledge of the students.

·        Discuss the students’ opinions about the Presidential and NJ Senatorial campaigns.

·        Question class: How do U.S. Citizens get the power to vote?

·        Review the “Who Can Vote?” Worksheet

·        Have students research the URLs from the worksheet

·        Download the Voter Registration Form from New Jersey

·        Have students investigate the United States Constitution regarding the requirements for Congress and Presidential candidates.

·        Open Microsoft Word and report findings

STUDENT WORKSHEET

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

STEP ONE: RESEARCH

            Are you permitted to register to vote?  The Web site of the Federal Election Commission lists the requirements for each state.

Go on the Internet and use this URL:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/Voteinst.htm

Answer the following questions:

What are the Voter Registration Requirements for your state?

Read the requirements for five other states.  Which requirements are different? Which are the same?

In what year will you be allowed to register to vote?

Practice filling out a Voter Registration Form.  Download and print out the form.  Complete it for the year you will be eligible to vote.

www.state.nj.us/state/gif/votereg.gif

Student will:

·        download and print out the form

·        practice filling out a Voter Registration Form.

·        complete it for the year they will be eligible to register

What are the requirements to be the President of the United States? 

Go to:

 http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html

How often are members of the House of Representatives chosen? At what age can a person run for this office? How many years must a candidate live in the state he or she represents? (Article I, Section 2)

How often are Senators chosen?  At what age can a person run for this office?  How many years must a candidate live in the state he or she represents? (Article I, Section 3)

How often are the President and Vice President chosen?  At what age can a person run for these positions? How many years must a candidate live in the United States? Where must the candidate have been born? (Article II, Section 1)

STEP TWO: REPORT YOUR FINDINGS

·        Use Microsoft Word

·        Heading-Right Justified

·        Name

·        Team

·        Date

·        Center Title

·        Use Word Art

·       Body – Left Justified

·        Write your data in complete sentences.  Make sure that you indent before each paragraph and double space between paragraphs. REMEMBER: Spell check your document before you hand it in.  Staple your completed Voter Registration to the back of your report. 

Good Luck J

GRADING

TOTAL        100 points         Your Total __________________

VII. Assessment

            Students will receive a copy of the grading rubric while they are working on their projects.  Please note, since I am their computer teacher, I will not only grade the content but also how well they used the computer.

IX. Extension

Have the students create a new state, i.e., “New Negin”.  Then let them create a Voter Registration Form for their state.