The Dirksen Center wants to help teachers teach better by giving them the opportunity to use technology to create, customize, and share online learning activities in their classrooms. The Center wants to help students learn more by bringing educational resources together in one place that provide new ways to learn about Congress interactively.

* It's My Party, Getting Ready to Vote & Trivia *

Are you a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? Take the quiz to find out. Find It’s My Party at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Elections_politicalparties/2_politicalparties.htm

Getting Ready to Vote

Get a lesson plan for your class and bring the election into your classroom.  Find Getting Ready to Vote at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/elections_voting/2_voting.htm

Are you a political junkie? Do you watch C-SPAN for hours at a time? Let's see how much you know about the major-party 2008 United States presidential candidates, both former and current!

Trivia:  Both major parties saw their fields of presidential contenders shrink in advance of the first nominating contests in 2008. Identify the correct chronological order of pre-2008 GOP drop-outs.

1. Jim Gilmore, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Tommy Thompson
2. Tom Tancredo, Tommy Thompson, Duncan Hunter, Jim Gilmore, Sam Brownback
3. Jim Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter
4. Jim Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo [Answer: Note that U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) did NOT withdraw his candidacy until January 19, 2008. Jim Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, and Tom Tancredo are respectively the former governor of Virginia, former governor of Wisconsin and former HHS Secretary, U.S. Senator from Kansas, and U.S. Representative from Colorado.]
   

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to September 2008"s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0908.htm

* Complete Convention Coverage & Your Turn: Ask a Candidate *

Complete Convention Coverage

Have your students watch and read videos and speeches from the Democratic and GOP conventions.

Find Complete Convention Coverage at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Elections_convent_in/2_Elections_convent_in.htm

Your Turn: Ask a Candidate

Ever wanted the chance to sit down with the president?  Would you ask about immigration? Religion? Health Insurance? Their favorite ice cream flavors?

If you could meet the candidates, what question would you ask?  What would you want to tell them?

Ask your question and then explain why it’s important to you in the text box provided.

Find Your Turn: Ask a Candidate at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Elections_candidates/2_candidates.htm

Do you have or know of an online activity you would like The Dirksen Congressional Center to feature on its new Web site for students -- Congress for Kids? The Center is currently seeking online activities that provide new ways to learn about Congress and the workings of the federal government interactively.

If you have questions or suggestions for online activities, contact Cindy Koeppel.