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Lesson plan; The Strangest Things to Happen During an Election

Ann S. Michaelsen

Unusual Events in Elections

There are some election promises we can all get behind, but what about free fishing rods, the introduction of a 99p coin, officially ending boredom, increasing the length of a day to 32 hours, or rewarding taxpayers with Nectar points? Here are some of the most bizarre things to happen during an election campaign!

Elections are one of the most important aspects of the democratic political process, but sometimes, the actions of politicians, or would-be politicians, leave us scratching our heads. Let’s delve into the weird and wonderful world of mad manifestos, eccentric electioneering and perplexing political promises.

Whatever your political leanings, everyone knows the names of the main parties standing in the general election, but they’re not the only choice. It has been estimated that since the 1950s, more than 700 political parties have stood for election in the UK. Among the most famous outliers is the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. But there are others, even more unusual than the satirisations of Screaming Lord Sutch. DiscoveryDiscovery

Lesson Plan: Unusual Events in Elections

Objective: Students will learn about strange occurrences during elections, analyze their impacts on democratic processes, and critically evaluate the role of unconventional political parties and promises in a democracy.

I. Introduction

  1. Brief overview of the importance of elections in democratic societies
  2. Introduce the concept of unusual election events and fringe political parties
  3. Quick icebreaker: Ask students to share any unusual election stories they’ve heard

II. Main Activity: Exploring Strange Election Events

  1. Present 5-6 strange election events or promises, such as:
    • Free fishing rods
    • Introduction of a 99p coin
    • Officially ending boredom
    • Increasing the length of a day to 32 hours
    • Rewarding taxpayers with Nectar points
  2. For each event/promise:
    • Describe the context
    • Discuss potential motivations behind the promise or event
    • Analyze possible consequences or outcomes
    • Encourage student reactions and thoughts

III. The World of Fringe Political Parties

  1. Discuss the existence of numerous political parties in the UK (over 700 since the 1950s)
  2. Focus on the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and other unusual parties
  3. Analyze the role of satirical and fringe parties in the democratic process

IV. Group Discussion and Analysis

  1. Divide the class into small groups
  2. Have each group discuss:
    • Which event or party they found most intriguing and why
    • The potential effects of unusual promises or events on voter trust and participation
    • The balance between political creativity and responsible governance
    • The value (if any) that fringe parties bring to the political discourse

V. Wrap-up and Reflection

  1. Summarize key points from the group discussions
  2. Reflect on the importance of critical thinking in evaluating political promises
  3. Discuss how to maintain election integrity while allowing for diverse political expression

VI. Homework Assignment

  1. Research Task: Ask students to find an unusual election event or fringe political party from their local area or country
  2. Analysis Task: Write a short essay (300-500 words) addressing:
    • The background of the event or party
    • Its impact on local politics or voter engagement
    • Their personal opinion on whether such occurrences strengthen or weaken democracy

VII. Extension Activities

  1. Create a mock campaign for a fictional fringe party, balancing humor with addressing real issues
  2. Debate: “Do fringe parties and unusual promises enhance or undermine democratic processes?”
  3. Media analysis: Examine how mainstream media covers fringe parties and unusual political events
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