Lesson Plan #:AELP-GOV0049

Voting Simulation

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Kathy L. Peck
School or Affiliation: Tumalo Elementary School, Redmond School District 2J, Redmond, Oregon
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Subject(s):

Description: Young people have a natural curiosity about the adult process of voting. After a study of the lawmaking branch of the state government and in conjunction with a November election, present this multi-day lesson.

Goal:

The purpose of this lesson is to help students become aware of the rights and responsibilities of voting.

Objectives: As a result of this simulation, the student will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of candidates and issues by making an oral presentation.
  2. Fill out a voter registration card and turn it in to a designated person.
  3. Perform jobs that imitate precinct workers.
  4. Vote responsibly.
  5. Tally election results.
  6. Discuss and compare classroom election results with those from the official election.

Materials:

From the County Clerk's Office obtain current voter's pamphlets, poll books, and voting booths with punch cards. Teachers, students, and/or volunteers make up a voter registration card, booklet for voting booth, and box for depositing ballots.

Procedure:

  1. Divide the class into cooperative learning groups.
  2. Use a "jigsaw" technique where each group is responsible for learning about one or more items from the voter's pamphlet [i.e., candidates, state measures, local issues], these "experts" will make an oral presentation to the class.
  3. Students will take home a voter's pamphlet to share and discuss with their parents.
  4. To achieve eligibility to vote in the classroom election, students must fill out and turn in voter registration card.
  5. Alphabetically list names and addresses in poll book.
  6. Have the class make up a booklet to be used in the voting booth with the punch cards [County Clerk's office cannot give out official voting booklets, voting booths need to be used at least one week prior to actual election date].
  7. On "Election Day" assign jobs that duplicate those of the precinct volunteers, use exact vocabulary and procedures.

Tying it All Together:

  1. After the completed election integrate a math procedure into the activity by tallying and recording the results.
  2. Post, discuss, and share results with parents to further parental involvement.
  3. Compare official election returns with those of the class.

Example:

VOTER REGISTRATION

Full Name:
Current Address:
Date of Birth:
Date Registered:

Under Penalty of Law: By signing this card, I certify that I am a citizen of the United States of America and that I shall have been a resident of Oregon for 20 days before the next election at which I vote; that I shall be at least 9 years of age on or before the date of the next election at which I will vote, and that all information I have supplied is true to the best of my knowledge.

Signed_______________

Return your registration to the School Clerk's Office, Sue Bozarth, Secretary, 19835 Second Street, Bend, Oregon, 97701.