Election season is a great time to introduce kids to the principles of democracy and to explain the voting process.
For young children, you could emphasize lessons about fairness and making decisions as a group. Perhaps take a family vote on what movie to watch or what to have for dinner. Older children can learn about why we have elections and how to vote.
Here are some resources and activities to help.
PreK and K
9 Picture Books About Voting and Elections
Research shows that having clear conversations about the voting process with children makes them more likely to vote when they’re adults. Here are nine books to start conversations around not only voting, but democracy, citizenship, and equality.
Let's Vote Bingo: PreK and K
In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning.
You Can't Always Get What You Want | Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
Teacher Harriett holds a classroom election to choose the new class pet.
Patriotic Paper Flags
Get your little ones excited about elections with these cute and patriotic voting flags.
How Grownups Vote | Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood
A young girl accompanies her father when he goes to vote. She sees how grownups vote and goes inside the voting booth to watch her father use the voting machine to cast his vote.
Grades 1-3
Let's Vote Bingo: Grades 1 and 2
In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning.
Madame President | The Electric Company
Learn about the vocabulary words election, debate, poll, negative, and campaign with The Electric Company amid school politics. Lisa and Francine face off in the election for Book Club President. Can Lisa's campaign message win out over Francine's dirty politics?
Get Out the Vote | ARTHUR
Can kids make a difference and increase voter turnout? Absolutely! Buster and Binky are shocked to learn that their parents didn’t vote in the last election, and that they hardly ever vote! They brainstorm ways to get their parents to the polls for the next election.
Peg + Cat |The Election Problem
Peg and Cat are holding an election to see who can get the most votes to be in charge of the chickens while the farmer goes to market. In this interactive storybook, your child can watch and count along as the chickens vote for their favorite candidate.
Grades 3-5
Election Day | All About the Holidays
The first Tuesday after November 1st is Election Day, allowing American citizens to elect their civic leaders. Americans over 18 years old can vote for their local, state, and national leaders.
The Electoral College | Social Studies Shorts
Every four years in November, U.S. citizens elect a president. Election Day, however, is just the first step in the process. Our votes for president actually elect the members of the Electoral College, whose votes are counted in Congress in January. This episode of Social Studies Shorts explains the history behind the Electoral College and how it works.
How to Become a Voter | Social Studies Shorts
As a U.S. citizen, you can vote once you turn 18. Voting is one of our civic duties. But how do all the voters in line on Election Day know where to go and what to do? This episode of Social Studies Shorts explains voter registration and everything you need to know about the process of voting.
Grades 6-12
The Midterm Elections in Ten Minutes or Less
Explore digital resources on topics related to the midterm elections, and voting, in 10 minutes or less. Explore ways to get more people to vote, what is gerrymandering, and should voting be mandatory.
The General Election
This video helps students to make sense of the American election process.
Election Foundations
This video provides students with background information on why the United States holds presidential elections.
Elections and Presidential Campaigns (collection)
Learn how elections work, look inside the campaign process, consider the role of interest groups, and give students a chance to try their hand at managing a presidential campaign.
Why Midterm Elections Are Important | Things Explained
Traditionally, the highest voter turnout rate happens when US presidential candidates are on the ballot. Midterm elections, however, are equally as important, despite the lower voter turnout.
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