Lesson Plan - 5 Big Questions About Running for President

Watch a Video
Watch the video “Newsie’s Challenge: What It Takes to Be President.” Ask: What are the requirements for becoming the U.S. president?

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

• candidates
• campaigning

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think of their own questions about the presidential election process.

1. What is the purpose of the article?
The purpose of the article is to explain that the 2024 race for the White House has already begun and to share important facts about how Americans choose the nation’s top leader.
^{(RI.4.2 Main Idea)}

2. What three rules for who can be president are listed in the U.S. Constitution?
The U.S. Constitution lists three rules for who can be president: A person must be at least 35 years old, must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years, and must be a natural-born citizen. 
^{(RI.4.2 Key Details)}

3. What are two facts you can learn from the map on page 5?
Sample response: The map on page 5 shows that primaries are held in more states than caucuses and that Iowa and New Hampshire hold the first of these events in 2024. Iowa will hold its Republican caucus on January 15, and New Hampshire will hold both its Democratic and Republican primaries on January 23.
^{(RI.4.7 Text Features)}

FEATURED SKILL: Domain-Specific Vocabulary
Use the skill builder “Election Words” to deepen understanding of key election-themed vocabulary from the article.
^{(RI.4.4 Vocabulary)}