Larry Ferlazzo

Here’s a beginning list of The Best Resources For Learning About The 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, and I’m sure I’ll be adding tons to it as the election approaches:

Election 2012 comes from Scholastic.

There’s no question in my mind that the National Mock Election Game is the best site for English Language Learners. It has a fair amount of audio support for text. Intermediate ELL’s should be able to play it.

Here are a couple of sites that help you determine what kind of President you would be: PBS’ President For A Day and Are You Presidential Material? from Channel One.

All About Electing A President Of The United States is a very simple guide to the presidential election process.Ben’s Guide To The Election Of The President provides the same type of information, as does a summary fromEnchanted Learning.

After students develop some background knowledge about how the Presidential elections work, it might be useful to spend a little time on the electoral college. 270 To Win has a lot of information displayed graphically about previous Presidential elections and what polls are saying now about the upcoming election.

I should at least mention an excellent online game developed by Cable In The Classroom called eElections.However, it’s probably only accessible to very advanced English Language Learners.

CNN has a nice comic-book-like interactive called Eight Steps To The White House. It’s an overview of the election process.

Ask A President is also from CNN. Four virtual presidents answer basic questions about the Presidental election process and how the U.S. Constitution works.

An Electoral College Primer is a bit dry, but makes a good attempt at explaining this crazy system of ours.

Time Magazine has a slideshow on The Voting Machines of America.

Cast Your Vote is an interactive where you can simulate casting a vote in a voting machine.

How Design Can Save Democracy is an interactive graphic from the New York Times that shows a sample Presidential ballot and how it can be designed to be more user-friendly.

The Harford Courant has an interactive graphic demonstrating the voting system in that state.

The Best Places To Learn About President Barack Obama’s Life

See a biography of Mitt Romney at The Biography Channel. You can also see a list of his positions here.

Predict a winner: Battleground states is an interactive from the Los Angeles Times.

The Washington Post also has an interactive predictor.

Brainpop has a series of good movies, but you have to either subscribe or register for a trial period.

The Economist has several good “videographics” on the election.

Election 2012: Teaching Ideas and Resources is from The New York Times Learning Network.