Teaching American politics – what is the story behind Donald Trump?

Donald Trump, Seen From Europe

No doubt, many in Europe are engaged in the presidential election in the USA. This time perhaps more than ever. The United States presidential election of 2016, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, but before that the two parties need to find their presidential candidate. Many predict it will be Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. But the series of presidential primary elections and caucuses take place between February 1 and June 14, 2016, in other words, we still have some months to go before it is decided.

“Donald Trump’s strident xenophobic rhetoric, and blatant contempt for and verbal abuse of those who oppose him, are warning signs of a real danger facing the Republican Party and American democracy“. DAN DONOVAN  Dungarvan, Ireland

Lesson plan

1. Who are the candidates this year? Look at this web page at New York Times and write a short list of the most famous candidates this year on your blog.
2. Do the 2016 Presidential Election quiz. Write on your blog which 2016 Presidential candidate you side with according to this quiz.
3. Choose one of the popular issues here and write about the difference between states and parties on that issue.
4. Watch the videos below and write a post on your blog where you discuss the statement above. Could Donald Trump have been a candidate in  Europe? Write 3 sentences on why you could/could not vote for Donald Trump.
5. Choose 2 republicans and 2 democrats to follow on Twitter and share some of their best tweets about the election, explain your choices.
6. What are the images for the democratic and republican party? Explain their significance.
7. How many delegates do the candidates need? Read the Delegate Tracker here.
8. Read 2 newspapers’ coverages of the US on the election and write a short paragraph on how they portray the different candidates. Explain your choice of newspapers. Use PressReader.
9. If I was an American I would be to vote for…………. Write a short paragraph explaining your choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jw4gnoVSBM