Electoral College/Civics 101

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

3, 5

Overview

In this video from PBSLearningMedia, students learn the Electoral College is the process by which we elect the President of the United States. When a voter casts his/her vote for President, they’re not actually voting for them directly. Instead, they are telling the state which party’s designees should serve as the state’s electors.

More About This Resource:

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Nebraska has a different approach. There are only 2 states that can split votes based on congressional districts (Nebraska has 5 electors). This creates multiple popular vote contests in these states, which could lead to a split electoral vote. In the past two decades, Nebraska has split the vote twice; 2008 and 2020.

 

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 3

SS10.3.10

Recognize functions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

UP:SS10.3.10

Vocabulary

  • identify
  • human environment
  • physical environment
  • compare
  • physical features
  • regions of the United States
  • recognize benefits
  • recreation
  • tourism
  • state parks
  • national parks

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Difference between human and physical environments the physical regions of the United States and the features of each.
  • Affects of environment on human behavior and ways of life.
  • Positive and negative affects of humans on the environment.
  • Examples of types of tourism and recreation and the affects of each, including state and national parks.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • List examples of the ways human and physical environments affect people and the ways they live.
  • Differentiate between regions of the United States based upon their physical features.
  • Differentiate between positive and negative effects that people have on the environment.
  • Explain the benefits of recreation and tourism, including at state and national parks.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are various ways that people are affected by their human and physical environments, as well as the effects, both positive and negative, that humans have on the environment.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 5

SS10.5.9

Explain how inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation led to the creation and eventual ratification of the Constitution of the United States.

UP:SS10.5.9

Vocabulary

  • inadequacies
  • Article of Confederation
  • ratification
  • limitations
  • factions
  • Federalist
  • Anti-Federalist
  • republic
  • powers
  • principles

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation and the impact these had on the creation of the Constitution of the United States.
  • The duties and powers of the three branches of government.
  • The supporters and oppositions of the constitution.
  • The main principles of the bill of rights.
  • The impact of George Washington as president in a republic.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze and describe the impact of government documents.
  • Describe and provide examples of major ideas, concepts, and limitations of the Constitution including the duties and powers of the three branches of government.
  • Compare and contrast the positions of various groups involved in historic events, such as the writing of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
  • Analyze primary source documents.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The Articles of Confederation and influential groups and individuals played a role in the development of the United States Constitution.

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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