2020-21 Academic Year
American Identity – Mock Election Project
The students started their exploration of American Identity by learning the structure of the United States government, understanding the roles of each branch, and how the balance of power structure works to hold one branch from accumulating too much power over the others.
We then dove into a modified version of our Mock Presidential campaign. Students were grouped into four political parties (Republican, Democrat, Green, and Libertarian) and then individuals tasked with representing their adopted parties stance on a variety of different issues Climate Change, Social Justice, Economy, Health Care, and Foreign Policy.
Press Release
For the first assignment, students were given a leading question for each of the five main issues and tasked with writing a press release highlighting their parties’ responses. Click on the links below to read the different responses.
Climate Change – Does your candidate support rejoining the Paris Climate Agreements? Why or why not?
Republican • Libertarian • Green • Democrat
Social Justice – Does your candidate support reallocating funds from policing towards other social programs? Why or why not?
Republican • Libertarian • Green • Democrat
Economy – The 2020 recession is one of the worst in America’s history. What would your candidate do to encourage economic recovery and promote job growth?
Republican • Libertarian • Green • Democrat
Health Care – Should your candidate be elected to the office of the President, what are the first steps they would undertake to respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Republican • Libertarian • Green • Democrat
Foreign Policy – The Department of Defense officially acknowledges that the US is engaged in warfighting efforts in seven different countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen). Many of these military engagements have been lengthy, expensive, and not definitely effective. What is your candidate’s stance on these long-term military interventions?
Republican • Libertarian • Green • Democrat
Campaign Flyers
Moving from the written format of a Press Release, students were tasked with creating a campaign flyer that informed voters about their parties stance on the primary issues using one or combination of Aristotle’s “modes of persuasion:”
Ethos – Credibility and Trust
Pathos – Emotion, empathy and values
Logos – Logic and proof
Republican Party Flyers
Climate Change 1 • Climate Change 2
Social Justice 1 • Social Justice 2
Economy
Foreign Policy 1 • Foreign Policy 2
Libertarian Party Flyers
Climate Change
Social Justice 1 • Social Justice 2
Economy
Health Care
Foreign Policy 1 • Foreign Policy 2
Green Party Flyers
Climate Change
Economy 1 • Economy 2
Health Care
Foreign Policy
Democratic Party Flyers
Climate Change 1 • Clmate Change 2
Social Justice 1 • Social Justice 2
Economy 1 • Economy 2
Health Care 1 • Health Care 2
Foreign Policy 1 • Foreign Policy 2
Political Advertisement
– A final, but important assignment was the development of a political campaign ad based around the students’ area of focus. The students were again tasked with using one or combination of the Ethos, Pathos, Logos modes of persuasion. Here is a selection of videos from each party.
Republican – Economics
Republican – Foreign Policy
Lib – Health Care
Lib – Foreign Policy
Green – Economy
Green – Health Care
Dem – Foreign Policy
Dem – Health Care
2019-20 Academic Year
Agriculture in Idaho Podcast Project Description
Objectives:
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Students will create a compelling podcast that tells a story about agriculture in Idaho.
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Students will understand how the industrial agricultural system shapes the economic, social, and/or environmental character of Idaho.
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Students will continue to consult local experts to better understand agriculture in Idaho.
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Students will effectively educate our community about some aspect of agriculture in Idaho.
Project Description:
In order to feed ourselves, humans must interact within their natural, social, and built environments. This fall, students created a podcast that examined an aspect of Idaho agriculture. They investigated their topic with a partner through research, interviews, and other explorations. They produced a podcast that investigated how their topic fit into the agricultural system of Idaho, the United States and potentially the entire world. Titles and podcasts are below.
“BS: Idaho’s Poop Problem” -Penelope & Zane
“Food Labels: Perception Versus Reality” -Lila & Ryan
“H2A: Who, What, Where, When, Why” – Marcella & George
“The Locavore’s Advantage” -Elena & Liam
“On the Range: Pros & Cons of Grazing on Public Lands” Deke & Maddie
“The Future Farmer” -Skylar & L.C.
“Dairy Queens: The Diary Industry in Idaho” -Wyatt
“Got Energy? Agriculture Electrified” -Preston & Willa
“NexGen Farmer” -Aidan & Nora
“What’s the Buzz: A Pollinator Podcast” -Tayah & Grace
“The Idaho Potato” – Maddox