There are many requirements and steps that are necessary for one to become the leader of the United States. Learning and being able to explain this process helps students understand the government of the United States, and how it is run. For this activity, students will create a storyboard that illustrates the requirements and steps to become President.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard depicting how one becomes the President of the United States.
Student Instructions:
Organizing a classroom election lets students experience the presidential process firsthand and deepens their understanding of the U.S. government.
Assign students to groups representing candidates and campaign staff. This fosters collaboration and helps them practice teamwork while researching candidate platforms.
Have each team outline key issues, slogans, and goals for their candidate. Encourage creativity so students take ownership of their campaigns.
Allow teams to present speeches and participate in debates. This builds public speaking skills and helps students compare candidate ideas in a fun way.
Let students vote privately, then tally and announce the winner. This simulates the real election process and reinforces civic engagement in your classroom.
The main steps to becoming President of the United States include meeting constitutional requirements, announcing candidacy, participating in primaries and caucuses, being nominated by a major party, campaigning nationwide, and winning the majority of Electoral College votes in the general election.
To run for President of the United States, a candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
Teachers can use interactive activities like creating storyboards, holding mock elections, and discussing each step of the process to help students grasp how presidential elections work in the U.S.
A storyboard activity involves students illustrating and summarizing each step to the presidency, helping them visually organize and remember the process from candidacy to election.
Learning how someone becomes President helps students understand U.S. government functions, civic responsibility, and the significance of voting and leadership in a democracy.