RAFT Card

Role (student)
Actors

Audience
Spectators at the
show

Format
A play (based on
a true story)

Politicians
(Presidential
nominees)

Voters

A Political Party
Debate

Protesters

Congressmen; all
politicians/governm
ent officials

A
#YoungLivesMat
ter rally

Topic
You are a
participant in the
First Continental
Congress. What
is being
discussed? How
do you come to
agreements about
what steps the
colonies should
take?
You have been
selected by your
political party as
the candidate they
want to back for
the US
Presidency. It is
the first debate?
What topics do
you feel strongly
about? What
responses and
retorts do you
offer against your
opponents?
You are a
protester at a rally
for
#YoungLivesMatt
er. The city has
provided time for
some protesters to
speak and you
have been
selected. What do
you say? What is
your platform?
What changes in
law enforcement
do you envision?

RAFT Task Card: Social Studies

Objective:
You will be able to put on a performance demonstrating what happened in the First Continental Congress.
Student Role:
A politician in the First Continental Congress (actor)
Audience:
The spectators
Format:
A play (written by the performers)
Topic:
You are a delegate to the First Continental Congress. What is being discussed? How do you come to
agreements about what steps the colonies should take?
Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Research the First Continental Congress. Use the textbook and online resources to find information.
Use a storyboard to map out your script.
Type your script.
Rehearse your performance.

Resources:

Textbook
The Declaration of Independence
www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.htm
Kidport Reference Library
www.kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/americanrevolution/firstcongress.htm

Assessment:
Prepare a 30 minute performance re-enacting the events that led to and happened during the First Continental
Congress.
Prepare for a 15 minute question-answer session following the performance.

RAFT Task Card: Social Studies

Objective:
You will be able to debate your positions on issues including healthcare and education at the first Presidential
debate for the 2016 election.
Student Role:
Political party Presidential nominee
Audience:
The voting public
Format:
Presidential debate
Topic:
You have been selected by your political party as the candidate they want to back for the US Presidency. It is
the first debate? What topics do you feel strongly about? What responses and retorts do you offer against your
opponents?
Directions:
1. Research political party platforms.
2. Prepare a 5 minute opening and 5 minute closing.
3. Rehearse responses/rebuttals to sample debate questions (provided by teacher).
Resources:

Republican Party platform

https://www.gop.com/platform/
Democratic Party platform
https://wwww.democrats.org
The American Presidency Project
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/debates.php

Assessment:
Prepare an introduction and closing statement explaining their political partys platform and why the candidate
should be elected.
Participate in a Presidential debate, offering responses to questions about major issues and be able to offer
rebuttal to opponents statements.

RAFT Task Card: Social Studies

Objective:
You will be able to present your argument regarding protecting our youth, especially minority youth, from
becoming a part of the high statistics of youths incarcerated and/or killed at the hands of their own and/or law
enforcement
Student Role:
Protestor
Audience:
Government officials/Congress
Format:
Young Lives Matter Rally
Topic:
You are a protester at a rally for #YoungLivesMatter. The city has provided time for some protesters to speak
and you have been selected. What do you say? What is your platform? What changes in law enforcement do
you envision?
Directions:
1. Find a location for your rally by researching political meetings/hearings.
2. Create signs and flyers to hold and distribute explaining your platform and what changes need to be
made.
3. Prepare a 10 minute speech that will be presented to the government officials. The speech must detail
recent events/occurrences and possible solutions to the issues facing the youth.
Resources:

Young Lives Matter website

thepeacekeepers.org/young-lives-matter-2/
10 Keys to Writing a Speech
www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/
How to Organize a Rally
www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/advocacyuniversity/toolkit/stagingarally/organizearally

Assessment:
Organize a rally.
Present a 10 minute speech to Congressmen/politicians.