Minor Parties SEL

This lesson takes place over two 90 minute periods. Students will develop SEL skills such as responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationships skills while engaging in a project-based learning opportunity centers on minor parties. The first lesson opens with an exercise that assesses students’ prior knowledge of political parties and party systems. Next, the whole class will read about minor parties. Then, the students will create a party platform for their own minor party. They will identify goals of the party, name it, and classify what type of minor party it is. Once students have developed their own minor party, they will participate in a speed dating activity through which they will share their work and learn about classmates’ parties. The first lesson ends with content review questions and a reflection on partner work. The second lesson opens with an exercise that reviews content knowledge introduced the day before. Then, students will participate in a four corners activity. This activity calls for students to represent the beliefs and goals of the minor party they created. It also allows them to practice expressing themselves clearly and calmly, as well as practice taking the perspective of others. The second lesson closes with an exit ticket that assesses content knowledge and provides an opportunity to reflect on the four corners activity. Answer keys for all activities are included.  This lesson is aligned to the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies and the Ohio State Content Standards for American Government.