Lesson: Analyze highly staged appearances by George W. Bush and Al Gore as they accept their Party's nominations.

Bush Entrance (QuickTime)


Gore Entrance (QuickTime)

Documents: Live clips from appearances at convention centers.

Lesson: Explore how the medium of the web transforms presidential campaigning.

Slideshow (PDF)

Handout (PDF)

Documents: Slides from the home pages of the three major candidates. Handout with pull-down menu options.

Lesson: Examine the deep impact that editorial cartoons can have on the voters' views of candidates.

Handouts (PDF)

Slideshow (PDF)

Documents: Handouts with "Doonesbury" and "Boondocks" comic strips.

Lesson: Learn how the candidates courted Latinos, who they knew would soon surpass African Americans as the largest "minority" population in the U.S.

Slideshow (PDF)

Handout (PDF)

Document: Slide of Newsweek article and handout with same article.

Lesson: Examine the role religion has played on the campaign trail.

Slideshow (PDF)

Document: Slide of Newsweek sidebar with quotes from candidates about religion.

Lesson: This lesson shows examples of homemade media and reminds us where all democratic processes begin - in the determination and creative spark within individuals and communities everywhere.

Slideshow (PDF)

Document: Slide of New York Times photo of handmade signs.

Lesson: Using background information followed by projection and detailed analysis of the trailer for Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11, students learn media literacy skills while decoding the film's messages about President Bush.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Trailer

Documents: The two-minute trailer is available at www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer in Quicktime and Windows Media formats.

Connections: In Media Construction of Presidential Campaigns: A Document-Based History Kit, there are other examples for teaching students about wartime presidential campaigns. Click to view these related lesson plans as printable PDF files (the actual documents are available as audio clips, PowerPoint slides and video clips in the kit).