Constitution & Elections
(links updated 7/2023 - please email me if you find broken ones! linda.bonder@gmail.com)
Notes
Volunteers and employees of non-profit 501c3 organizations are not permitted to advocate for or promote any political party or candidate. However, it is entirely proper and useful to discuss the elections process and issues with students in a level-appropriate way.
Students should know that, whether or not they are eligible to vote, election can affect all residents.
Oregon Elections
There are usually current election articles in ESOL News Oregon.
On ballotpedia.org, you can get a sample ballot for wherever you live, and get information about upcoming elections, candidates, ballot measures, etc. - you can bring in your paper copy if teaching in-person
Access the online Oregon Voters Pamphlet (in many languages) - if teaching in-person, you can usually get copies for your class at any library or elections office
Elections process for partisan & non-partisan elections - class materials
Elections process infographic
Levels of government - video
Lesson ideas and materials (levels 4+, some 3)
Video (perhaps show it with the sounds off for level 3)
For low level English learners
I would show the ballot. Zoom in on one high profile race. You can discuss something like this beforehand - then students can recognize the names on the ballot. (I'd save the class leader election for the end :))
US Constitution
First amendment
For teaching it online: Lesson plan ideas & materials
Would You Fight for All Five? Weighing Our First Amendment Freedoms. Lesson plan from Newseum
Information gap activity for 2+ learners - Google Doc, pdf
Slide show of images related to the 1st amendment
Landmark 1st amendment cases - These are very short pieces with just the essence of the case. I give students only the case summary, have them discuss it, and have them vote on the probable ruling. Would the ruling be different in their country? Then I give them the ruling, and we discuss that.
1st amendment in the news - These are very recent (Jan 2020) 1st amendment controversies. They generated great discussion in my class.
Second amendment
Informational boards / slide show. I print these out and give 3-4 slides on a topic to each small group. I ask them to discuss these questions.
New Yorker article on the 2nd amendment (adapted). Discussion questions for this article