Every four years, we have the power to VOTE! We must embrace this responsibility and teach our students to embrace it. So, how do we teach such a big idea to our students, even when it might be scary or overwhelming? We make it fun and kid-friendly with our election activities and ideas!
We use our Election Research Project to introduce elections and voting as making a choice. Kids understand this, so they learn that elections are about making a choice. This classroom-proven election resource has been used in classrooms since 2012!
(NOTE: this resource is updated for 2024 and now uses the official presidential and vice presidential portrait for each candidate in place of clipart!)
We teach about making a choice and counting votes. Elections are great for social studies and math lessons! So here’s what our election activities looks like:
Election Activities: Making A Choice
Making A Choice: Dogs vs. Cats. Students vote for dogs or cats, and they explain why they chose dogs or cats. This lesson helps students see the importance of knowing why you choose. Students then analyze the votes and the data.
We also vote for our favorite election day read aloud!
Election Activities: Voting For President
We spend a day learning about each of the candidates. We read a book and share facts about them (party, vice presidential running mate, where they’re from), and then the students vote. They enter the voting booth and cast their secret ballot. Then, we count the votes, analyze the data, and declare a winner! (NOTE: our election activities and research project is updated for 2024, and use the official portraits for each candidate)
To make our voting booth, I used red, white, and blue bulletin board paper and spray-painted a box blue!
Our election creation includes everything you need for your election unit. It has both a print version and digital activities that are perfect for distance learning!
Election Activities: Art Projects
We also decorate our classroom with some fun and simple election art projects.
Each student made their own campaign poster! They made a self-portrait and a flag and added the slogan!
After reading Duck For President, we make our own duck!
Election Activities: If I Were President, Read Aloud And Writing
We also read Grace For President and completed a story map. We also write about what we would do if we were the president.
Election Activities: Read Alouds
Click on the image to see our read-alouds on Amazon!
Here are some kid-friendly election videos:
For more ideas and resources, check out these posts:
