Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your students about presidential campaigns and elections? Look no further than The Living Room Candidate! This interactive website, created by the American Museum of the Moving Image, offers a comprehensive look at the history of presidential campaign ads from 1952 to present day. To help guide your students through their exploration of this site, we have compiled a list of 10 guided questions to enhance their learning experience. The Living Room Candidate Guided Questions
1. What is the purpose of campaign ads? How have they evolved over time? 2. How do the candidates in the ads portray themselves? How do they portray their opponents? 3. What techniques are used in these ads to appeal to voters? 4. How have technology and media changed the way campaign ads are created and distributed? 5. Are there any recurring themes or messages in these ads? 6. How do the ads reflect the cultural and societal issues of their respective time periods? 7. Do you think these ads are effective in influencing voters? Why or why not? 8. How do the ads for different parties and candidates differ in tone and content? 9. Are there any similarities or differences between modern campaign ads and those from the past? 10. How do these ads contribute to the overall election process?Guided Questions for The Living Room Candidate
In addition to exploring the ads on The Living Room Candidate, students can also conduct interviews with family members or community members who have lived through past elections. Here are some interview questions to get them started: 1. How have campaign ads changed since you first started voting? 2. Do you remember any specific ads that stood out to you during past elections? 3. How do you think campaign ads influence voters? 4. Have you ever changed your vote based on an ad? 5. How do you think technology and social media have impacted campaign ads?The Living Room Candidate Interview Questions
If you want to engage your students in a group discussion about campaign ads, here are some topics to get the conversation started: 1. Should there be any regulations on campaign ads? Why or why not? 2. Are there any ethical concerns regarding the content of campaign ads? 3. How do campaign ads contribute to the polarization of politics? 4. Do you think campaign ads accurately represent the candidates and their policies? 5. How do campaign ads affect voter turnout?The Living Room Candidate Discussion Topics
Looking for some fun and thought-provoking conversation starters to get your students talking about campaign ads? Here are a few to try out: 1. If you could create a campaign ad for any candidate, who would it be and what message would you want to convey? 2. Do you think negative campaign ads are necessary or do they do more harm than good? 3. How do you think campaign ads will evolve in the future? 4. Do you think there should be a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on campaign ads? 5. If you were running for office, what kind of campaign ad would you want to create?The Living Room Candidate Conversation Starters
To encourage critical thinking and deeper discussions, here are some prompts to use during a group discussion about campaign ads: 1. How do campaign ads contribute to the political climate of our country? 2. Do you think campaign ads accurately represent the diversity of the American population? 3. How do campaign ads target specific demographics? 4. Do you think campaign ads should be held to the same standards as other forms of media, such as news outlets? 5. How do campaign ads reflect the current state of our society and culture?The Living Room Candidate Discussion Prompts
For a more structured and guided discussion about campaign ads, here are some talking points to cover: 1. The history and evolution of campaign ads in the United States. 2. The impact of technology and media on the creation and distribution of campaign ads. 3. The role of campaign ads in influencing voters and shaping public opinion. 4. The ethical concerns surrounding campaign ads and their messaging. 5. The future of campaign ads and how they may continue to evolve.The Living Room Candidate Talking Points
Looking for some open-ended questions to spark discussion about campaign ads? Here are a few to consider: 1. How do campaign ads contribute to the political divide in our country? 2. Do you think campaign ads are effective in persuading voters or do they simply reinforce existing beliefs? 3. How do campaign ads represent the values and policies of the candidates? 4. How do campaign ads differ between local, state, and national elections? 5. How do campaign ads contribute to the overall election process and voter turnout?The Living Room Candidate Discussion Questions
Want to engage your students in a conversation about campaign ads? Here are some topics that may spark their interest: 1. The use of fear and negative messaging in campaign ads. 2. The impact of social media on the reach and effectiveness of campaign ads. 3. The role of fact-checking in campaign ads and the responsibility of candidates to present accurate information. 4. The influence of money and special interest groups on campaign ads. 5. The potential for bias and manipulation in campaign ads.The Living Room Candidate Conversation Topics
Finally, for a more structured and guided discussion about campaign ads, here is a list of questions to use: 1. What is the purpose of campaign ads and how have they evolved over time? 2. How do campaign ads target specific demographics and influence voter behavior? 3. What techniques and strategies are used in campaign ads to appeal to voters? 4. How do campaign ads reflect the cultural and societal issues of their respective time periods? 5. Do you think campaign ads accurately represent the candidates and their policies? 6. How do campaign ads contribute to the overall election process and voter turnout? 7. Should there be any regulations on campaign ads? Why or why not? 8. Are there any ethical concerns regarding the content of campaign ads? 9. How do campaign ads contribute to the polarization of politics? 10. How do you think campaign ads will continue to evolve in the future?The Living Room Candidate Guided Discussion