Special Interest Groups

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Overview

This lesson briefly explains what a special interest group is and describes the impact of interest groups on the political process.

 

Grade Levels

5 – 8

 

Objectives

Students will:

• define the term interest group;
• identify interest groups that people in the local community belong to; and
• contact an interest group and evaluate the impact of that group on the political process.

Estimated Time

2 days in-class time

3 days outside research

 

Materials Needed

• E-Learning Module: How a Member Decides to Vote
• Projection device
• Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled

Procedure

1. Use a projection device to project the How a Member Decides to Vote E-Learning Module. Complete the activity as a class.
2. Explain to your students that a special interest group is a group of people with shared goals who work together to influence governmental policy. For example: The National Education Association (NEA) works to advance the cause of public education, the United Auto Workers (UAW) lobbies to improve working conditions and insure fair labor practices, the American Medical Association (AMA) promotes the interests of doctors, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) lobbies for tougher laws aga nst drunk driving, and the Sierra Club promotes the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources.
3. Have students identify some types of interest groups that may have been for or against the proposed flag burning bill.
4. Ask students why a person may become involved in a special interest group or adopt a special agenda. Cover reasons such as personal gain, religious interest, life-changing events such as accidents or crime, or promotion of favorite activities.
5. Discuss how special interests call attention to their causes.
6. Have each student interview at least four adults and find out which interest groups, if any, these adults belong to. Students should also find out why the adults joined the interest group. Give students at least two days to collect the data.
7. Using the data that the students collected, compile a list of interest groups that local community members belong to.
8. Ask students to choose one interest group. Tell students to conduct a search on the Internet to find out what issues the interest group is concerned with, learn how this interest group has influenced the development of public policy, and determine what the interest group is currently doing to influence public policy. You can refer students to the A to Z list of Special Interest Groups from the Civic Participation E-Learning Module.
9. Have students create an oral presentation that explains their findings.

Extension and Adaptation Activities

Extension Activity

Have students make a list of the top five areas of personal interest to them. These topics can range from sports and hobbies to future career interests and education. Have students search for special interest groups that share their views on these topics and discover the activities the organizations use to promote their agendas. How could students help promote their interests? Are most actions of these groups based on physical action, discussing issues with leaders, educating the public, or donating money?

Incorporating Technology

Have students use presentation software to present their findings about the interest group.

 

Assessment

Basic Concepts and Processes

Ask your students to respond to the following requests for information and assess their knowledge of key concepts taught in this lesson.

1. Define the term interest group.
2. Name at least five interest groups that local community members belong to.
3. Describe one interest group. What issues is this group concerned with? What has this group done to influence public policy?

Scoring Guide for Oral Presentation

Elements	Possible Score	Assigned Score	Notes
Speaks clearly.	10
Pace of speech: not too fast, not too slow.	10
Describes the members of the interest group.	20
Describes the issues the interest group is concerned with.	20
Explains how the interest group has influenced the development of public policy.	20
Explains what the interest group is currently doing to influence public policy.	20

 

Lesson Plan Feedback

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