Mini-Lesson

Analyzing the News

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will analyze the results of the New Hampshire primaries.

1. Tell students that they will be reading an update on the 2008 Presidential election. Remind students that the Democratic and Republican parties still have not chosen nominees to run for President. Much of the election news right now focuses on the contests the parties are holding to determine who the nominees will be.

2. Pass out the latest timeforkids.com news story, New Hampshire's Big Winners. Tell students that Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton received the most support from New Hampshire voters in the state's contest, called a primary, yesterday. Explain that experts around the country have differing opinions about what this means for the candidates. As students read the article, have them think about the question: What do these results mean for the candidates in each party?

3. Have students share their findings. Ask: How is the New Hampshire primary different from other primaries? Is it possible to make predictions about the upcoming primaries in Michigan based on the New Hampshire results? Why or why not?

4. As an extension, challenge students to create pie charts that show the results of the New Hampshire primaries.