During any election, it's important to understand both sides and their beliefs. While studying the 1980 Presidential Election, students will find it helpful to compare and contrast the Democratic and Republican parties, namely Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Students will use a T Chart to highlight each candidate, their positions, ideas on foreign and domestic policy, and ideologies. From this, students will be able to analyze how and why each candidate fared the way they did politically and specifically during this election.
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
Have students create a grid storyboard to detail what principles and ideas are a part of major terms like liberalism and conservatism. This will allow students to gain a better understanding of what exactly constitute the core ideas of each ideology and political position, and how these principles factored into the 1980 election.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard comparing the candidates of the 1980 Presidential Election.
Bring authentic historical voices into your lesson by assigning students to examine campaign speeches, debate clips, or newspaper articles from the 1980 election. Primary sources help students develop critical thinking and support their arguments with real evidence.
Remind students to always back up their statements about each candidate’s positions with specific quotes or data from their research or provided sources. This habit strengthens analytical skills and models evidence-based reasoning in social studies.
Arrange for students to swap T Charts with classmates and give constructive feedback on accuracy and completeness. Peer review builds confidence, fosters collaborative learning, and uncovers points students may have missed.
Organize a friendly debate where small groups defend either Reagan or Carter using their research. This active discussion boosts speaking skills, encourages respectful discourse, and makes history memorable and engaging.
Use a T Chart to help students visually compare Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter on their ideologies and domestic and foreign policies. This approach fosters critical analysis and makes differences between the candidates clear.
A T Chart is a graphic organizer that allows students to list and contrast information side-by-side. For the 1980 election, students can use it to organize and compare each candidate's political positions, policies, and ideologies for deeper understanding.
Liberalism (Carter) emphasized government intervention in the economy and social programs, while conservatism (Reagan) promoted limited government, lower taxes, and a stronger national defense. Comparing these helps students grasp each candidate’s core principles.
To enable Real Time Collaboration in Storyboard That, go to the Edit Assignment tab and turn on collaboration. This allows students to work together on the same storyboard, enhancing teamwork and communication skills.
Encourage students to create a grid storyboard exploring concepts like liberalism and conservatism. This helps them connect political ideologies to the election and understand key terms in context.