so, you're developing a middle school social studies unit

[ulysses]

on elections for use next month. *All* of next month, but with the understanding that you don't get to social studies some days in your class. You need to be "fair and balanced", as they say, non-partisan. Your kids have a strictly limited understanding/knowledge of the electoral process, but an intuitive understanding of a lot of issues for their grade level based on your average middle schooler's strong sense of, and need for, fairness. You want them, by late October, to be able to hold a mock election complete with debates about real issues.

What do you include?

[LizW]

1. Check this site

I ran across this today. There is a curriculum area that has some materials for middle school age kids. I haven't looked at all of it, but there might be something there you would be interested in.

http://www.nationalmockelection.org/

[SoCalDem]

2. and this one.. It involves cookies..kids LOVE cookies

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2335172

[Tsiyu]

3. You have to hold their attention

Sometimes you can start with a "true" historical tale. A dilemma, as it were. You could read an engaging, seat-of-the-pants account of the 2000 election, and when the inevitable questions start, use them to teach about how the electoral system works, how early "polling" is often wrong, how someone can win the popular vote but not the Electoral College vote, how the Supreme Court - as the Judicial Branch - gets involved in the whole process and affects it.

Definitely show kids how people have won by very few votes.

A hands on approach to teach about voting rights: Announce to the class that you are going to let them vote for some class office - Say, Class President. Let them get all excited about this. Explain how they will vote ( paper ballots) and how you will tally the votes..lalala. Then, just before they vote, tell them that only the kids who have a sister, or kids who are left-handed, or kids who are wearing the color yellow, are allowed to vote.
Then they will understand unfairness when you discuss poll taxes and women's suffrage.

My son's teacher gave kids extra credit if they brought in a completed voter reg card. Another idea!

Good luck and I hope you enjoy this part of teaching. Who knows how many new Dem patriots you might inspire.:yourock:

[AngryOldDem]

4. Does your area have Kids Voting?

This may be able to help you plan the whole course of study:

http://www.kidsvotingusa.org/


On edit: My kids' school had this the last election and they actually learned a lot about the process. The study culminated in a schoolwide presidential election, which I'm sorry to say, Bush won.

[ulysses]

5. thanks for the suggestions

:yourock: