LESSON PLAN ON ELECTIONS AND VOTING

#1. Objectives

*The students will learn about political parties by participating in an election and voting process.

*Each student will learn the citizen responsibilities for electing a government official: becoming informed, registering to vote, and voting on a ballot.

 

#2. Materials

*Current news articles about elections, campaigning, and candidates

*Campaign posters, buttons, banners, etc.

*Voting booths

*Poster paper

*Crayons

*Markers

 

#3. Introduction

a. When the children come to class have the room decorated with campaign signs and banners as well as voting booths (you can call the county clerk to arrange to borrow the booths). Tell the children that they are going to have a chance to vote.

b. Have the students be collecting articles from the newspaper on local and national elections, debates, and election candidates.

c. Refer to the articles and read about the candidates. Ask the students what they know about the candidates or about the current election. If there is not an election going on, find newspaper articles in the library about past election campaigns.

 

#4. Procedures

a. Point out to the children what political party each candidate belongs to. Explain to them that there are two major political parties, the Democratic and the Republican. Show the children the party paraphernalia and campaigning materials (buttons, posters, banners, etc.). You can obtain these supplies by contacting your local Democratic and Republican parties or representatives. A political party is a group of people who try to win elections, so they can run the government. Political parties are voluntary. You don't have to join one. Some candidates run with no party behind them; they rely on support from both parties and the independents.

b. Explain to the children that all citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote. It was not always the case, however. African Americans as well as women didn't always have that freedom. Now we have amendments that give all citizens over 18 years the right to vote.

c. Let the students know how important it is for everyone to use their right to vote. We as individuals can make a big difference with just our one vote. In order to vote, however, we have to register usually a month in advance.

d. Pass out to each child a voter registration card that they can fill out (you can pick these up at your local drivers license division). Explain to them that if they do not register then they will not be able to vote today. Have the children tell you what they know about the candidates from the earlier discussion. Tell them they are going to now have a chance to vote for one candidate.

e. Once the children hand in their registration they can vote in one of the booths. Remind them that they only vote for one candidate and that their vote is confidential. If possible, give them a sticker that says they voted.

 

#5. Conclusion

a. After everyone has voted, tally up the votes and put the results on the board. Compare their vote with the national election and see if they chose the same candidate as the country.

 

#6. Assessment

a. Divide the children into 3-4 groups (they will represent a political party). Give each group a piece of poster paper, crayons, and markers. Have each group come up with their own political campaign for the school. Make sure they include what they want to do if they are elected into office and any changes they would like to make. Have each group tell the rest of the class about their goals and changes they want to achieve/make. The class registers to vote and then votes for the candidate they feel will represent the school the best.

 

Source: Lindsay Budge