Political parties and election results, 1997 and 2000

Note: The information used in this lesson is no longer being updated.

Overview

High-school students become familiar with the results of the Federal Election by analysing data on the number of valid votes by political affiliation. Students integrate data and knowledge with other research materials to produce a 2–to–3–page election strategy for a specific political party.

Objectives

• To learn to retrieve and analyse data from E-STAT
• To prepare oral presentations with visual representation (graphs, tables, charts, etc.)
• To improve analytical, research and writing skills

Suggested grade levels and subject areas

Intermediate
Social Studies, History, Civics

Outcomes

Students will

• produce a table showing the number and percentage of votes by party and region; and
• write a strategy paper for one of the political parties.

Materials

• 'Number of Valid Votes, by Political Affiliation' elections table
• Research materials (i.e., access to the Internet, books, newspapers, local MP, etc.)
• Student worksheet: Election results 1997
• Student worksheet: Election results 2000

Resources

Elections Canada: Publications
http://www.elections.ca/

Classroom instructions

1. Review the history and structure of an election — (why elections are held, the voting process, etc.).
2. Using overheads or a projector, review the procedures to retrieve data from E-STAT.
3. Divide the class into groups, and assign a province to each group.
4. Using the worksheet, each group analyses data for their province.
5. Each group prepares an oral presentation on the voting patterns in their province.
6. While the groups are making their presentations, complete a table for Canada, on the blackboard or on an overhead.
7. Once groups have finished their presentations, discuss the questions in Section B.
8. Students complete Part C as homework or as a research project.

Enrichment

List other tables available on the Election Canada module from E-STAT.

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.