About This Lesson
Why Are Midterm Elections Important?
Lesson Overview
In the middle of the political discussions about the midterm elections of 2018, have we have lost sight of the importance of midterm elections in general? Are these elections important? Use this lesson to help students discover the importance of all elections.
Suggested Grade Level
High school (grades 9–12)
Estimated Time to Complete
One to two 45-minute class periods
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to
- define midterm elections,
- explain why midterm elections are important from the perspective of national, state, and local decisions that need to be made, and
- suggest at least two ways in which voter turnout in all elections, particularly in midterm elections, can increase.
Materials Needed
- Chart paper, smartboard, whiteboard, or chalkboard
- Internet access using a computer, tablet, or other device
- Teacher Resource (see the end of this lesson)
- Student Directions (see the end of this lesson)
Requires a bit of research/prep in advance. Could include questions to build students' connections for defining midterm elections in the introduction. There's also a lot of vocabulary used in the activities and the lessons mention that prior lessons and vocabulary may need to referenced. There are also connections to mathematics in one of the activities and research connections (on computers).