1948 Election

Developing research skills in third graders using Truman's extensive travels as a jumping off point

Students will work in the computer lab to examine campaign methods of President Harry Truman during the 1948 campaign. They will compare these to methods being used by Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama in 2008.

Students will work with the party platforms for the four major parties participating in the Election of 1948 (Democratic, Republican, States' Rights Democratic, and Progressive parties).

For this project the students will create a timeline for the year highlighting events in national and international, art, literature, entertainment, music, science, inventions, sports, fashion, and economics.

Using cooperative learning small groups will analyze and summarize key aspects of the Clifford-Rowe Memorandum.

Assignment is both individual and cooperative. Students will use the Norman Rockwell Post cover "Family Squabble". Students will work in pairs to analyze the painting using the attached worksheet.

This will be a paired learning activity. The students will work in pairs analyzing party platforms from 1948 and 2004 or 2008.