2026 TEACHERS SEMINAR

The Taft Institute Seminar for Teachers is an annual online event, generally in late fall, that features presentations and reviews of topical issues by Professor Emeritus Michael Krasner and Senior Teaching Associate Don McLean.

Each year we provide resources for prep and follow-up work. Access the following for each year below:

Teachers Seminar Presentation Recordings

Seminar PowerPoint Presentations

Source articles

Student handouts

FALL 2026 TEACHERS SEMINAR - "TEACHING THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS: ARE THEY ALREADY RIGGED?"

READING MATERIALS, RESOURCES & VIDEOS

[CLICK ON IMAGES TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD]

READING MATERIALS FOR SEMINAR PREPARATION

ELECTION SIMULATION GAME

Our hands-on, reality-based Election Simulation Game, developed in collaboration with the teachers of Townsend Harris High School, promotes an in-depth understanding of politics in general, and elections in particular. It's also a lot of fun for students and teachers.

Students are given the resources to carry out a political campaign or to be voters, and then they are held accountable for the way they perform those roles. There are two options: a whole-school model and a one-classroom version.