Our future decision-makers are in our classroom today. It is critical that our students understand the voting process and recognize the importance of casting their vote. This civics lesson walks your students through the voting process with a mock election. Your students will learn key vocabulary, will participate in the campaign process, and will have a chance to cast their vote. This mock election can be used with ANY topic of your choice (favorite candy, book, best season, favorite sport, etc!)
 
Teacher Tips:
Detailed teacher tips are included with facts, key words, and suggestions for how to carry out your mock election. The following teacher tip sheets are included:
- Mentor Text (list of picture books to use throughout)
- Ways to integrate vocabulary
- What is an election
- Why vote
- History of Voting (discrimination & barriers to voting)
- 5 Steps to Voting
- Campaigning
- Election Survey/Poll
- Election Day
- Facing Disappointment/Celebrations
- Citizenship (action steps for students to do now)
 
KWL Chart, Pocket Chart Words & Picture Cards
Gather student schema before, during, and after the lesson with the KWL chart. Add new vocabulary to your word wall, or have students complete the vocabulary sheet included. Pocket chart words as well as PICTURE CARDS are included:
- election
- president
- vote
- leader
- eligible
- register
- citizen
- candidate
- Republican
- Independent
- Democrat
- political party
- campaign
- slogan
- survey
- front-runner
- poll
 
Campaign Posters
Students will create a campaign poster. Students will learn about slogans and how to create a catchy phrase. Examples are included. This is great for a review of persuasive or opinion writing.
 
Register to Vote Cards
As students learn about the voting process and eligibility, they will pretend to be 18 years old and eligible to vote. Students will register to vote and will receive a voter registration card.
 
Pre-Election Survey (Tally & Graph the results)
Students will learn about the importance of election polls. Students will complete an election survey to find out data on the popularity of their choice. This is a great way to apply the math concept of graphing and analyzing data.
 
Materials and Instructions for Your Mock Election
This resource includes everything you need for holding a mock election in your class.
- Ballot box signs and instructions
- Ballots for Voting Day
- "I Voted" badges
- Election Word Find (to complete while students are casting their vote)
- Coloring pages (to complete while students are casting their vote)
- Election Results Graph
- The Daily Newspaper to announce the results
 
Reflection and Action:
Your students will have an opportunity to reflect on what they learned as well as brainstorm ways that they can get involved as citizens (help a neighbor, join a cause, etc.)
 
Celebrate the election results with a themed party!