Objectives:

SWBAT understand how the voting process, by secret ballot, works.

SWBAT make a decision based on a list of criteria for each "candidate".

Materials:

Chalk or white board (w/ utensils), ballot box (shoe box’s with a hole), slips of paper (1/4 size), pencils or pens, prizes (candy), overhead of sample ballot, Halloween books, and a voting booth.

Procedure:

1. Show sample ballot on overhead. Explain its use in an election.
2. Ask, "How would you decide who to vote for?" List ways on the board.
3. Talk about the candidate’s, in the presidential election, stands on particular issues. Ask whom would they vote for based on what each candidate believes.
4. Show an overhead of some pressing issues and each candidates stand on the issues.
5. Explain that this is how adults make a decision of how to vote. Usually you vote for the candidate whose views and beliefs are close to or the same as yours.
6. Remind students that it is an individual choice.
7. Tell the students that we are going to vote on the best class costume.
8. Ask the students to think of three categories of costumes from which they will narrow those choices. (ex., scary, funny, characters)
9. Explain that these are like the parties in the government like Republican, Democrat and Independent.
10. Have each category get together in a part of the room and choose amongst themselves the best costume in their category. (Give about 3-5 minutes)
11. When the class comes back together, ask the students," What characteristics make the best costume?" List these on the board. (ex., good make-up, real costume)
12. Explain that these criteria will be used to make a decision on what costume they should vote for as the best. Relate this to the presidential election. Ask how choosing is alike, between both elections.
13. Explain that we are going to vote in the secret booths, while reading a story to the class. Students will go one by one to the booth and write their favorite person on the ballot.
14. While reading the story, a teacher (possibly some student helpers) will calculate the votes.
15. After the votes have been calculated, the winner will be given a prize, like a large candy bar (all children in the classroom will receive a smaller prize, such as a miniature candy bar).

Accommodations:

1. Students, who do not have costumes, can either help count the votes, or be an honorary member of any group they chose to be in.
2. Spanish speaking students may need an interpreter.
3. Try to have different kinds of candy in case of allergies.

Evaluation:

1. Ask students to tell why they voted for a particular student. What were the criteria, were they things that were listed on the board, or their own?
2. Ask students, from what we talked about, why do you think voting in secret is such a big deal?