With the 2024 presidential and congressional elections just around the corner, there’s no better time than now to educate students and learners of all ages about how elections work and their importance. In order to become empowered citizens—and possibly even future politicians!—all students need to learn about the impact voting can have, not just for the president but for all of the candidates and measures on the ballot. Even seasoned voters can learn something new about the electoral process, how government works, and the issues and policies that are at stake, especially in an era where misinformation and disinformation about elections is abundant.
Infobase can help. Our streaming video platforms and renowned reference databases feature a vast array of content on elections for students and patrons of all ages that will help them become more informed voters this and every election year.
Use Streaming Video to Teach about Elections and Start Discussions about Today’s Issues
Infobase’s streaming video collections—Films On Demand for colleges and universities, Classroom Video On Demand for secondary schools, the award-winning Learn360 for K–12 schools and districts, and Access Video On Demand and Just for Kids for public libraries—feature a wide range of educational videos on voting and how elections work, some of which include resources educators can use, including lesson plans and student activities. Users can also find debate videos on political issues—excellent for honing critical-thinking skills—plus recordings of past presidential election debates and more.
Here are just some of the videos you can find. We have included searchable item numbers for each title for your convenience. (Some of these titles contain mature themes or content; viewer discretion is advised.)
For Elementary Students
- I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference (Vooks, Item #279703; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids; includes lesson plan)
- Courageous People Who Changed the World (Vooks, Item #279696; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids; includes lesson plan)
- I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote (Weston Woods, Item #83394; available in the U.S. and Canada on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- The Big Election: Berenstain Bears (Nelvana, Item #79848; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids; includes student activity)
- The Election (Arthur) (PBS, Item #279091; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- D.W. Goes to Washington (Arthur) (PBS, Item #276791; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- President of the Sandbox (Rosie’s Rules, Season 1) (PBS, Item #290434; available in the U.S. on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- True Colors (Cyberchase) (PBS, Item #279557; available in the U.S. on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- Yankee Doodle Andy (Let’s Go Luna!) (PBS, Item #285497; available in the U.S. on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
For Middle School Students
- Social Studies Kids: Gerrymandering – Introduction to Political Redistricting (Wonderscape Entertainment®, Item #289547; available on Learn360 and Just for Kids)
- Untold: The American Vote series (Makematic, Item #290860; available on Learn360, Classroom Video On Demand, and Access Video On Demand)
- Elections in the United States (Makematic, Item #277162; available on Learn360)
- The Federal Election Commission (Makematic, Item #289581; available on Learn360, Classroom Video On Demand, and Access Video On Demand)
For High School Students
- America’s Two-Party System (Makematic, Item #274349; available on Learn360, Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- The Words That Built America (HBO®, Item #139932; available in the U.S. and Canada)
- U.S. Presidential Election Debates series (ABC News, Item #94908; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- Are Primary Elections Ruining Democracy?: A Debate (Open to Debate, Item #284217; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
For Higher Education Students and Adult Education
- Let the People Decide (Filmhub, Item #292353; available on Access Video On Demand and Films On Demand)
- After Bush v. Gore (Retro Report, Item #142520; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- America’s Great Divide: From Obama to Trump series (PBS, Item #213566; available on Films On Demand)
- Trump: Path to the White House (A&E, Item #160917; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- President Biden (PBS, Item #280538; available on Classroom Video On Demand and Films On Demand)
- Is the Democratic Party Too Far Left?: A Debate (Open to Debate, Item #291391; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- The GOP Has Lost Its Way (Open to Debate, Item #274248; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- Was January 6th an Existential Threat to American Democracy?: A Debate (Open to Debate, Item #287652; available on Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
- Voting: A Right and a Responsibility (Cambridge Educational, Item #8052; available on Learn360, Classroom Video On Demand, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand)
K–12 Educators, Need Help with Lesson Planning? Check Out Learn360’s Topic Centers on Voting and Government
Learn360 has several Topic Centers that bring together videos, interactives, games, printables, fun classroom ideas, and more to help educators build lesson plans about and support project-based learning on elections and how government works, including:
- U.S. Voting and Citizenship Topic Center
- U.S. Government and Constitution Topic Center
- U.S. Presidents Topic Center
Subscribers, log into Learn360, Classroom Video On Demand, Just for Kids, Access Video On Demand, and Films On Demand today to watch these videos now!
Not a subscriber? Why not take a FREE trial?
Get Extensive Election-Related Coverage, Background, and Context from Infobase’s Databases
World News Digest
World News Digest’s 2024 Elections Guide is your vital, one-stop source for complete campaign coverage, synthesizing in one place everything students and researchers need to know about the election. Get facts on all of the candidates, plus debate clips, fundraising data, the schedule and results for each state’s Democratic and Republican primary and caucus, and more. Learn more about the 2024 Elections Guide.
With World News Digest, you’ll also find valuable coverage and material on every presidential election since Franklin D. Roosevelt won a third term in 1940, from campaign roundups to breaking news stories.
Issues & Controversies
Students and researchers can use Issues & Controversies’ timely, balanced, and unbiased pro/con articles to understand today’s hot-button campaign issues and analyze the arguments on both sides. Check out our clear, cogent, and authoritative articles on topics including:
- Immigration Policy
- Israeli-Palestinian Policy
- Book Bans
- U.S.-Russia Policy
- Gun Control
- Artificial Intelligence
- Social Media and Mental Health
- And more.
Plus, the Presidency and Presidential Races section offers comprehensive background on all presidential campaigns since 1996—including each candidate’s views on controversial matters, party platforms, excerpts from speeches, and much more—along with articles discussing the presidencies and campaigns of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Users can also view thought-provoking debate videos on the presidency and American politics.
American History
Our award-winning American History database includes rich historical content ideal for election-related studies and lesson plans. Research past elections, political parties, key figures, and important terms through essays, primary source documents, images and videos, and tables, charts, and maps that put the 2024 election into helpful perspective. Plus, you’ll find presidential inaugural addresses, biographies of U.S. presidents, and video coverage of the origin of presidential campaigns.
Other Databases You Should Check Out
- Polling the Nations: This database brings together 750,000+ poll questions covering hundreds of breaking-news events and thousands of topics, including those related to the 2024 presidential election from sources including CBS News, the Associated Press, Fox News, Pew Research Center, Quinnipiac University, The Washington Post, and more. Plus, find polls on other timely campaign issues such as inflation, abortion, immigration, and climate change.
- Issues & Controversies in History: Discover comprehensive articles covering the most controversial elections in U.S. history, plus a special “U.S. Presidential Elections” section contains background and results of every presidential election since 1789. Find voting statistics, biographies, primary sources, and links to related topics—perfect for adding context to this year’s election.
- The World Almanac® for Kids: A solid starting point for intermediate-level students, the U.S. Government topic area includes an Elections and Political Parties section that offers easy-to-understand bullet points on political parties, presidential campaigns, voting, and more. Users can also find biographical content on all of the U.S. presidents.
- The World Almanac® for Kids Elementary: The U.S. Government section includes elementary-level, full-color articles on voting and election-related topics, including political parties, primaries and caucuses, Election Day, and more. Young researchers will also find a U.S. Presidents section with brief, age-appropriate biographical articles on all of the presidents.
Subscribers, want to see this content for yourself? Log in today!
Not a subscriber? Why not take a FREE trial!
See also:
- Stay on Top of the 2024 Election with World News Digest
- Information Literacy Starts with Infobase
- Plan Your Academic Year with the Issues & Controversies Databases
- Honor Women’s History with Infobase
- FREE webinar: Leveraging Learn360’s Topic Centers in the K–12 Classroom
- FREE PDF: Four Keys to Using Films On Demand in Instruction: A Guide
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