20 things kids can do to learn about conventions (without politics)

20 WAYS STUDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT POLITICAL CONVENTIONS (without being political)

Between August 27 and September 6, K‐12 students have a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience government, democracy and leadership through political conventions. GenerationNation provides a variety of hands‐on activities to help students learn while watching, attending, reading about and discussing the conventions – all in a non‐political, non‐partisan way.

Electing a President

All levels and branches of government

Roles of citizens and leaders

Democracy, political process, elections and voting

Civic participation and leadership

Current events and public policy issues

U.S. Constitution

Media literacy

Reading and analyzing information

Writing to communicate information, ideas, facts and opinions

Communicating a position, listening to others, debating a topic with civility

And more!

ABOUT CONVENTIONS Every four years, American citizens elect a candidate to serve as President of the United States. Part of the road to the White House involves political conventions.

Republican National Convention (RNC) – August 27‐30, 2012 www.gopconvention2012.com

Democratic National Convention (DNC) – September 4‐6, 2012 www.demconvention.com/

On September 3, CarolinaFest is a free event open to families – GenerationNation will be there with non‐partisan activities www.charlottein2012.com/carolinafest2012

http://www.gopconvention2012.com/

http://www.demconvention.com/

http://www.charlottein2012.com/carolinafest2012

A convention in the city? Fun questions to get kids thinking about the cities where conventions are held. Research and analyze, plus think like a city leader. www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/a‐conventions‐in‐my‐city Learn the lingo Do you know what words like delegate, platform and nomination mean? www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/conventions‐vocabulary Welcome to Charlotte! Draw a picture, write a story or make a video about Charlotte. What would you tell a visitor about the city? (Share with GenerationNation – here’s how: www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/media) Find the delegate Right before and during the convention, The Charlotte Observer (www.charlotteobserver.com) will provide lists and other coverage of the delegates from each state.

Can you find each state on a map? Can you name one fact about each state?

Do people in different states have different ideas and concerns? Why or why not?

If you were a candidate, how would you communicate your message to so many different kinds of groups? Do you say the same thing to everyone, or change what you say for each group?

If you were elected to government, would you try to unite different kinds of people? Why or why not?

The convention websites also have information RNC http://www.gopconvention2012.com/delegates/ DNC http://www.demconvention.com/delegates/delegate‐map/

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/a-conventions-in-my-city

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/conventions-vocabulary

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/media

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/

http://www.gopconvention2012.com/delegates/

http://www.demconvention.com/delegates/delegate-map/

Have your own mock convention Learn about political conventions by taking part in the process! Have a mock convention with students taking on the roles of delegates and running and model convention. Read and download: www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/mock‐conventions

LEADERS ARE ELECTED TO SOLVE NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL PROBLEMS My wish for America Have a national or community issue on your mind? What’s your idea and solution for solving it? Read and download: www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/my‐wish‐and‐idea‐for‐america‐or‐my‐community Vote for me! Now that you have your idea and solution, make a campaign poster or button about it

Think carefully about what you want to say, using only a few words to make your slogan.

Does a campaign sign have to use certain colors, such as red, white and blue? Why or why not?

Think about your design. Are certain colors more visible than others? How big do you have to write the words so people can read it? Is one word in your slogan more important than the others – if so, does it need to be bigger or bolder, or in a different color?

If Elected What would you do if YOU were elected to be President?

What’s the #1 most important thing you would do on your first day in office? Solve a problem? Share an idea?

How would you work to get people to support your idea? Would you try to get them to agree with you and work with you, or tell them that you’re in charge now and they need to listen to you no matter what?

What’s the best way for a leader to get people to follow?

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/mock-conventions

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/my-wish-and-idea-for-america-or-my-community

Who’s the boss? The President of the United States is in the executive branch of federal government.

What is the top job in the executive branch in state government? Local government? Foreign governments?

Compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities for the different levels of executive branch leadership.

What are the other branches of government? Does one have more power or responsibility than the other? Why or why not?

Who decided that government should be set up this way? Why? Help wanted! Write a job description and help‐wanted ad for the President of the United States.

What kinds of knowledge, skills and qualifications should a President have?

Do this year’s candidates match those requirements? Why or why not?

In your opinion, what is the most important character trait a leader needs to have?

How does a political party find a candidate to run for office?

When you are old enough, do you think you would be interested in an elected position such as mayor or President? Why or why not?

WATCHING THE CONVENTIONS Many television networks will have convention coverage at night. They might focus on one speech and do a summary of everything else that happened that day. C‐SPAN will provide “gavel to gavel” coverage, meaning you can watch EVERYTHING. www.c‐span.org/ Major speeches are held each evening, and include (and are subject to change):

Keynote address RNC – NJ Governor Chris Christie – Tuesday, August 28 DNC – San Antonio Mayor Juan Antonio – Tuesday, September 4 Nomination speech RNC – US Senator (FL) Marco Rubio – Wednesday, August 29 DNC – President Bill Clinton – Wednesday, September 5

http://www.c-span.org/

Acceptance speech RNC – Mitt Romney – Thursday, August 30 DNC – Barack Obama – Thursday, September 6

Watch the conventions Watch the RNC and DNC conventions. Make notes and think about what you see – what does the stage look like? What are the delegates doing? What do the signs say? What is the media doing? Which topics are being covered? Any surprises? What did you learn and will remember forever? Use the scorecard to keep track, and discuss at home or at school each day. Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/ConventionScorecard.pdf Play convention bingo Watch the convention speakers and candidates. Mark the topics they cover in the speeches. Make copies for each convention and speech. Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/CONVENTION_BINGO.pdf Are they talking to me? Before you watch or read about the conventions and speakers:

Decide which 1‐3 topics are most important to you.

Then decide which 1‐3 topics you predict the speakers and presidential candidates will talk about.

Are the topics you picked the same, or different, as the ones you predict they will talk about?

Watch or read about the conventions and speakers.

Were your topics covered? How many times? Did you correctly predict what the speakers and candidates would talk about?

Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/Aretheytalking2me.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/ConventionScorecard.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/CONVENTION_BINGO.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/Aretheytalking2me.pdf

Connecting Governments Watch the keynote, nomination and/or acceptance speech. If you are studying any form of government in school, keep track of the number of times the candidate mentions something that could impact one a different level of government. Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/CONNECTING_GOVERNMENTS.pdf

Getting the Message Across Watch the convention speakers or candidates. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or family.

What is the key message the speaker is trying to deliver?

How does the speaker communicate the information?

Does he/she read from a piece of paper?

Does he/she raise or lower a voice or move hands to illustrate a specific point?

Does the speaker show emotions and expressions? How? Why? When?

Does he/she look confident? How?

How is he/she dressed? Does this matter?

Do people pay attention? How?

Is he/she persuasive? How?

What do you think is the most effective thing he/she does to communicate the information? Least effective?

Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/GettingMsgAcross.pdf What’s your Response? Watch a convention speech on TV or the web. Play the role of the opposite candidate or political party. (Do this for both conventions – play the roles of BOTH sides!) Write and/or deliver your opposition response. Be sure to address the key point the candidate made. Why would YOUR ideas and solutions be better?

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/CONNECTING_GOVERNMENTS.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/GettingMsgAcross.pdf

What’s for kids?

What does the candidate talk about that is of interest to or affects kids?

How many times does he/she talk about kids or things important to kids? Why do you think that is?

Write the headline

Watch the convention speeches or news coverage. Pay attention, and answer these questions. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or with your family.

If you were reporting on the convention, a speaker, or candidate, what would your headline be?

The next day, read actual headlines. Were you close? Were they right? Why or why not?

Read headlines from different news sources. What do they say? How are they similar or different? Why?

Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/writeheadline.pdf

Student reporters What are Charlotte students saying about the conventions? Read their reports. Do students have a different perspective than traditional media? Why or why not? www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/media Be a citizen journalist Your turn! GenerationNation invites all students to report on the political conventions through written articles, social media, photos and video. What, or who do you see? Which topics are being discussed? What do you think about everything you see? Make your youth voice heard! Download activity: www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/Citizen_journalist.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/writeheadline.pdf

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/media

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012/documents/Citizen_journalist.pdf

WHAT’S NEXT? ELECTION 2012 Now you have seen the candidates. Get ready for the rest of Election 2012! How do we elect a President? What does the President do? What happens on the road to the White House? www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/how‐do‐we‐elect‐the‐president Read all about it Lots to learn and read about elections, leadership and more. Check out these great reading lists from Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Library! www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/civic‐literacy‐read‐all‐about‐it Kids Voting Election All Charlotte area students are invited to cast a vote in Election 2012. Here’s how! www.generationnation.org/index.php/election 5 tips for being a good voter Learn, think and decide. Find out how! www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/learn‐think‐and‐decide‐5‐tips‐for‐being‐a‐good‐voter K12in2012 Your resource to connect K‐12 students with Election 2012 and civics in action – debates, Election Day, candidates and more ‐ through Inauguration Day! www.GenerationNation.org/k12in2012 (find non‐election curriculum and activities at www.GenerationNation.org)

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/how-do-we-elect-the-president

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/civic-literacy-read-all-about-it

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/election

http://www.generationnation.org/index.php/k12in2012/CLC/learn-think-and-decide-5-tips-for-being-a-good-voter

http://www.generationnation.org/k12in2012

http://www.generationnation.org/

CONVENTION SCORECARD

Republican National Convention Democratic National Convention Dates:

Location:

Speakers:

How is the stage decorated? Why? If you were designing the stage, would you make changes?

What do the delegates look like? Where are they sitting? Does it matter where they sit? Why?

GenerationNation | www.GenerationNation.org | Home of K-12 civic education, Kids Voting, Youth Civics and Youth Voice


Republican National Convention Democratic National Convention What is the media doing? Why? If you were in the media, who would you interview first?

Do you see any signs? What do they say? Are they easy to read? If you were making a sign, what would it say and look like?

Which topics are being covered? Do you agree that the topics are most important for the US? Why or why not?



Republican National Convention Democratic National Convention What surprised you? Why?

What did you learn?

What did you hope to see that you didn’t?

What will you always remember about this convention?



Republican National Convention Democratic National Convention Other comments, notes and questions about the conventions


CONVENTION BINGO

Watch the convention speakers and candidates. Mark the topics they cover in the speeches. Make copies for each convention and speech.

Convention: RNC DNC Speaker: Keynote Nomination Acceptance Other (circle one) (circle one)

Bipartisan

Military/Defense Global issues Environment Education

Competitive

Immigration Vision Work Together Americans

Jobs

(Write your own) Terrorism Energy Healthcare

Schools

The poor (Write your own) Constitution Uninsured

Illegal

Economy Working Class Budget (Write your own)

(Write your own)

Social Security Medicare Business Technology

Children/Youth

Taxes

Media (Write your own) Graduation Rate


ARE THEY TALKING TO ME?

Pick and predict

Before you watch or read about the conventions and speakers:

Decide which 1‐3 topics are most important to you.

Then decide which 1‐3 topics you predict the speakers and presidential candidates will talk about.

Are the topics you picked the same, or different, as the ones you predict they will talk about?

Watch or read about the conventions and speakers.

Were your topics covered? How many times? Did you correctly predict what the speakers and candidates would talk about?

POSSIBLE TOPICS

Children/ Youth

Cities

Economy

Environment

Global issues

Government

Healthcare

Housing

Jobs

Justice

K‐12 Education

Leadership

Military

NASA

Politics

Pre‐K Education

Research

Safety

Taxes

Technology

Terrorism

Transportation

Working together

Other?

Use the worksheet on the next page to write your topics and take notes.


ARE THEY TALKING TO ME?

MY TOPICS:

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

PREDICTION OF TOPICS

HOW MANY TIMES MY TOPICS WERE MENTIONED

BIG TOPICS COVERED AT CONVENTION

WHICH CONVENTION MOST COVERED THE TOPICS I AM INTERESTED IN?

WHY WERE THE TOPICS THE SAME AS, OR DIFFERENT THAN, MINE?


CONNECTING GOVERNMENTS

Watch the keynote, nomination and/or acceptance speech.

If you are studying any form of government in school, keep track of the number of times the candidate mentions something that could impact a different level of government:

KEYNOTE NOMINATION ACCEPTANCE (circle one)

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

STUDENT COUNCIL

SCHOOL BOARD

CITY OR TOWN

COUNTY

STATE

UNITED STATES

GLOBAL

OTHER?


GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS

Watch the convention speakers or candidates. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or family.

What is the key message the speaker is trying to deliver? How does the speaker communicate the information? Does he/she read from a piece of paper? Does he/she raise or lower a voice or move hands to illustrate a specific point? Does the speaker show emotions and expressions? How? Why? When? Does he/she look confident? How? How is he/she dressed? Does this matter? Do people pay attention? How? Is he/she persuasive? How? What do you think is the most effective thing he/she does to communicate the information? Least effective?

KEYNOTE SPEECH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

SPEAKER NAME

Key message

Communication skills

Confidence

Appearance

Do people pay attention

Is the person persuasive?

Most effective

Least effective



Watch the convention speakers or candidates. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or family. What is the key message the speaker is trying to deliver? How does the speaker communicate the information? Does he/she read from a piece of paper? Does he/she raise or lower a voice or move hands to illustrate a specific point? Does the speaker show emotions and expressions? How? Why? When? Does he/she look confident? How? How is he/she dressed? Does this matter? Do people pay attention? How? Is he/she persuasive? How? What do you think is the most effective thing he/she does to communicate the information? Least effective?

NOMINATION SPEECH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

SPEAKER NAME

Key message


Confidence

Appearance



Most effective

Least effective




ACCEPTANCE SPEECH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

SPEAKER NAME

Key message


Confidence

Appearance



Most effective

Least effective




OTHER SPEAKERS REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

SPEAKER NAME

Key message


Confidence

Appearance



Most effective

Least effective


WRITE THE HEADLINE

Watch the convention speeches or news coverage. Pay attention, and answer these questions. Write your answers or share in groups or with your class or with your family.

If you were reporting on the convention, a speaker, or candidate, what would your headline be?

The next day, read actual headlines. Were you close? Were they right? Why or why not?

Read headlines from different news sources. What do they say? How are they similar or different? Why?

SPEAKER OR EVENT AND DATE:_______________________________________________________MEDIA SOURCE HEADLINEMy Name:

My headline:

Charlotte Observer http://www.charlotteobserver.com

CNN http://www.cnn.com

C‐SPAN http://www.c‐span.org

Fox News http://www.foxnews.com

BBC http://www.bbc.com/

NPR http://www.npr.org/

(OTHER NEWS SOURCES)


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/

http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.c-span.org/

http://www.foxnews.com/

http://www.bbc.com/

http://www.npr.org/

YOUR TURN! BE A CITIZEN JOURNALIST

GenerationNation invites all students to report on the political conventions through written articles and opinions, social media, photos and video. What, or who do you see? Which topics are being discussed? What do you think about everything you see? Make your youth voice heard!

People: political leaders, delegates, media, celebrities, security

Issues and topics

Impact on Charlotte

Events and speeches

Media coverage about the conventions or Charlotte

Your perspective as a student

Anything else you think is interesting!

SHARE YOUR REPORT On all submissions, include your name, age or grade, and school or youth organization. If you are part of a school newspaper, include the link. Do not worry if you are not a professional. Your youth voice is important.

Written report/opinion (100‐200 words or less) Send text in body of the email (not as an attachment) Note if it is a report (what I saw) or an opinion piece (what I think) Email to [email protected]

Photos Email to [email protected] or upload at www.facebook.com/GenerationNation

Video Upload on YouTube, tag #GenNation and #youthvoice or Email [email protected] with link

Social media Twitter: tag @GenNation and #youthvoice Facebook: www.facebook.com/GenerationNation

GenerationNation will review for language, brevity and clarity and share student reports on the web and via social media.

Web: www.GenerationNation.org/K12in2012 Tumblr: www.GenerationNation.tumblr.com (youth voice page)


mailto:[email protected]


http://www.facebook.com/GenerationNation


http://www.facebook.com/GenerationNation

http://www.generationnation.org/K12in2012

http://www.generationnation.tumblr.com/

MY WISH FOR AMERICA/MY COMMUNITY

Kids, adults, leaders and officials work together to solve school, community and national challenges.

My name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I have a wish for: (check one)

………………… MY SCHOOL ………………… MY NEIGHBORHOOD

………………… CHARLOTTE ………………… AMERICA

My big issue is about: (circle one) ANIMALS CHILDREN AND YOUTH COLLEGE CRIME ECONOMY EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH HOUSING JOBS LAWS AND RULES POVERTY

RECYCLING SIDEWALKS STREETS TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORTATION OTHER………………………………..…

The problem is: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..

My wish to make it better or different: …………………………………………………………………..……………....

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

My wish can be possible if: (solution) ……………………………….……………........………………………….......

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

MY WISH FOR AMERICA/MY COMMUNITY (for younger children)

Kids, adults, leaders and officials work together

to solve school, community and national challenges. My name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… I have a wish for: (check one) ………………… MY SCHOOL ………………… MY NEIGHBORHOOD

………………… CHARLOTTE ………………… AMERICA

My big issue is about: (circle one) ANIMALS CHILDREN AND YOUTH COLLEGE CRIME ECONOMY EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH HOUSING JOBS LAWS AND RULES POVERTY

RECYCLING SIDEWALKS STREETS TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORTATION OTHER………………………

Draw a picture about it here: