Recent updates
This article was updated August 30, 2024
With the 2024 U.S. presidential election only a few months away, now is the time to explore these top elections lessons and activities from respected, nonpartisan sources. Most are 100% free.
For extra fun and student engagement, check out the games and interactives!
BEST 2024 Election Sites and Apps for Education
C-SPAN Classroom Deliberations
An excellent collection of lessons based on topical election-related issues, from presidential power to U.S. Supreme Court ethics to age restrictions for elected officials. Each detailed lesson plan includes primary source readings and video clips, vocabulary, note-taking handouts, and analysis activities. Handouts are easily copied and shared through Google Docs.
Close Up: 2024 Election Toolkit
The nonprofit Close Up Foundation offers a free guide to the 2024 presidential election, covering the candidates and their positions on education, gun policy, and immigration, as well as a classroom guide to watching and discussing the debates.
AllSides 2024 Presidential Election
A nonpartisan public benefit corporation, Allsides is dedicated to covering new stories without the left- or right-leaning bias so common in American journalism. Explore the voter guides and breaking news, and try the AllSides Bias Checker to assess the partisan tilt of any article.
PBS Daily New Lessons: Election 2024
Published once or twice weekly—or more often when big news breaks—each 2024 election lesson comprises a lesson summary, relevant stories, and videos, vocabulary, questions, and student activities. Recent topics include the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris’ selection of running mate Tim Walz, and President Biden’s decision to end his bid for another term.
Center for Civic Education Voting Lessons
A selection of lessons for elementary, middle, and high school looking at the timeline of U.S. voting history, what it means to be an informed voter, U.S. Presidential elections, and more. Each lesson includes objectives, vocabulary, and classroom activities.
Facing History and Ourselves - Teaching Resources for the U.S. Elections
Facing History's U.S. election-season resources are designed to guide teachers and students in examining the history of voting rights, media literacy, and how young people today can participate in the democratic process.
Best Free Constitution Day Lessons and Activities
Our democracy stems from the Constitution. No discussion of voting and elections is complete without an analysis of the document that, to this day, governs U.S election law.
iCivics - Election Headquarters
From the highly respected iCivics.org site comes a complete look at state, local, and midterm elections, from the Voting Matters Activity to lesson plans to games and infographics. Bonus: “Students Power Elections,” an election guide written by and for students.
Learning for Justice Future Voter Project
Learning for Justice’s Future Voter Project provides resources to educate kids about voting rights and voter suppression, and more importantly, a guide for registering all eligible students by the time they graduate high school. To examine controversial topics, visit the Civil Discourse in the Classroom page. Free account registration required.
BEST 2024 ELECTION GAMES AND INTERACTIVES
Politico: You be the campaign manager
With just a couple of months to go, can you manage a presidential campaign to victory? Users assume the identity of either the Democratic or Republican campaign manager, then make crucial decisions. Each decision is evaluated as correct or incorrect, with details provided in the explanation. Explore the complex dynamics between various demographic slices of the electorate and the Electoral College with this 2024 election challenge.
538 Projects: 538 Projects: What would it take to turn a state from one party to another?
As the name 538 suggests, it’s all about the Electoral College. Try your hand at manipulating conditions and watch to see how states turn from blue to red, or vice versa. This fascinating and super-detailed simulation allows users to manipulate 17 different voter groups— based on age, race, education, income, and sex—and observe the results.
2024 Presidential Simulation
Who will win the Electoral College and the Presidency in 2024? Run the simulations and see what might happen -- then make your own prediction. After running the Presidential sim, head over to the interactives for the Governors’ races as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate. Compare your forecast to the pundits’ predictions! Ideal for advanced students and those studying probability or politics.
NYT Lesson of the Day: A Gerrymandering Game
What is gerrymandering and how does it affect the outcome of elections? This New York Times lesson includes vocabulary, the gerrymandering interactive, questions for deeper discussions, and links to relevant articles. A winner in any race.
iCivic Election Games
From iCivics, the champion of nonpartisan civics education, Cast Your Vote, Branches of Power, and NewsFeed Defenders are perfect for teaching about U.S. elections. Each game is also available in iOS and Android format.
