Lesson Plan - 5 Big Questions About the Midterm Elections

Activate Prior Knowledge
Ask if students have seen election signs in your area. Explain that Election Day is November 8, and discuss which races are happening in your area.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• political party 
• ballots

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them note the main idea of each section.

1. Based on the article, why do you think these elections are called midterms?
Midterm elections got this name because of when they happen. The article explains that they take place “midway through a president’s four-year term.”
^{(RI.4.1 TEXT EVIDENCE)}

2. Why does the author say that midterms are important?
The author says that midterms determine which political party controls the U.S. Congress and that the president must work with Congress in order to see ideas he supports become laws.
^{(RI.4.8 REASONS AND EVIDENCE)}

3. How are the two chambers of Congress alike and different?
Both chambers make laws. The Senate has 100 seats—two for each state. Its members serve for six-year terms. The House of Representatives has 435 seats. The number of seats each state gets is based on its population. Its members serve for two-year terms.
^{(RI.4.5 COMPARISON)}

FEATURED SKILL: Domain-Specific Vocabulary

Use the Skill Builder “Election Words” to teach words from the article related to elections and government.

^{(RI.4.4 DOMAIN-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY)}