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
• evaluate the impact of a local interest group on the political process.

Estimated Time

3 days in-class time
3 or more days outside research

 

Materials Needed

• Interactive Learning Module: How a Member Decides to Vote
• Interactive Learning Module: The Importance of Civic Participation
• Projection device
• Internet-enabled computer with Macromedia FLASH ®

Procedure

Day 1

1. Explain to your students that an interest group is a group of people with shared goals who work together to influence governmental policy. Provide students with examples of interest groups, such as: 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 against drunk driving; and the Sierra Club—promotes the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources.
2. Use a computer and projection device to project the Interactive Learning Module: How a Member Decides to Vote. Have students make a list of the interest groups that appear in the module along with a short description of each group's position on the issue of flag burning. Have students also provide a probable reason why each group holds the position it does on the issue.
3. Optional: Have students vote on the proposed legislation. Ask students to write a two-sentence statement defending their vote. Their statement should begin, "I noted (yea or nay) because..." Have students read their statements to the class.

Day 2

1. Ask students why a person may become involved in a special interest group or adopt a specific agenda. Cover reasons such as personal gain, religious interest, life-changing events (e.g., accidents or crime), or promotion of favorite activities.
2. Discuss the methods that special interest group use to call attention to their causes.
3. 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 groups. Give students three days to collect the data.

Day 3

1. Using the data that the students collected, compile a list of interest groups that local community members belong to.
2. Ask each student to choose one interest group. Tell students to conduct an Internet search to find out what issues the interest group is concerned with, learn how this interest group has influenced the development of public policy (if it has), 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 Interactive Learning Module: The Importance of Civic Participation
3. Have each student create an oral presentation that describes his or her findings.

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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