Project Look Sharp :: K-12 & Higher Ed. Media Literacy Lesson Plans

Media Construction of Presidential Campaigns

A Document-Based History Kit, 3rd Edition

High School through College
This kit helps to teach about the role of media in 28 U.S. elections ranging from 1800-2008. Over 160 media documents are included for decoding, including slides of posters, handbills and political cartoons; audio clips of songs and radio programs; and video clips of speeches, debates, comedy TV and political commercials. Students will learn how to analyze historical documents, the history of presidential campaigns, the crafting and marketing of campaign messages, and the impact of new technologies and new media on presidential campaigns.

All materials are classroom-ready, including: teacher guides, student handouts, overviews, assessments, resource lists, and more than 140 historic media documents.

To order hard copy, click here.
To download entire 516-page teacher guide with all print materials, click here.

SPECIAL NOTE: This kit has a custom Facebook page associated with it (like it with the box to the right). This page features a myriad of resources which include questions, polls, additional articles, and a library of images. These specialized fan pages also give you the opportunity to connect with other educators, from around the world, who are also using this particular kit. You can also directly interact with the staff of Project Look Sharp to ask questions or just engage in discussion.

To download slideshows, or video or audio materials, go to each unit below.

NOTE: To view the quicktime clips provided below, you may need to install the free media player Quicktime on your computer. Visit Apple for download instructions.

1800 | 1828-1840 | 1860-1872 | 1896-1908 | 1932-1944
1952-1964 | 1968-1972 | 1984-1992 | 2000-2008

1860-1872: Slavery, Civil War and Reconstruction