Lesson: A Simulated Election

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

1, 2, 7

Overview

Students take part in a simulated election in which they roleplay poll workers at a polling site and vote in a simulated election. Students become familiar with polling site procedures and the mechanics of voting in their state. When the election simulation coincides with a general election or a state election, it provides for a more authentic experience. A supervisor should be in the vicinity of the voting booths you have created (or provided for), to assist students who may have questions about the voting process and mechanisms. A teacher can use their own classroom or a different room (i.e. Library, Media Room, Cafeteria, etc.) to complete any part or all of this lesson. 

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 1

SS10.1.2

Identify rights and responsibilities of citizens within the local community and state.

UP:SS10.1.2

Vocabulary

  • identify
  • describe
  • demonstrate
  • rules
  • laws
  • rights
  • responsibilities
  • community
  • citizen
  • state
  • property
  • taxes
  • voting
  • choices
  • decisions

Knowledge

Students know:
  • How to identify their rights as students and citizens in their community and state.
  • How to have respect for their personal belongings and other's belongings.
  • How to understand rules and consequences of breaking rules as students and citizens in their community and state.
  • How to be responsible for classroom jobs and chores at home to contribute to the common good.
  • How to vote in order to make choices or decisions.
  • Vocabulary: rules, laws, rights, responsibilities, community, citizen, state, property, taxes, voting, choices and decisions

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Describe how rules and laws protect rights and property of the people in the community.
  • Describe ways responsible citizens contribute to the common good of the community and state (for example paying taxes).
  • Demonstrate voting as a way of making choices and decisions.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There is an importance to their rights and responsibilities as citizens of their community and state.
  • Rules and laws protect citizens' rights and property.
  • It is important to make choices and decisions through voting. Citizens contribute to the common good of their community and state (for example, by paying taxes, conservation, volunteering, etc.).
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 2

SS10.2.1

Relate principles of American democracy to the founding of the nation.

UP:SS10.2.1

Vocabulary

  • relate
  • American
  • democracy
  • identify
  • settlement
  • recognize
  • principles
  • executive
  • legislative
  • judicial
  • demonstrate
  • political parties
  • utilize
  • democratic values

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Reasons for the settlement of the thirteen colonies the voting process.
  • The three branches of government and how they were established.
  • The roles of major political parties within the voting process. School and classroom rules.
  • Democratic values as expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Vocabulary: American democracy, founding of the nation, settlement, thirteen colonies, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, government, executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, voting process, election, political parties, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, rules, democratic values

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze a primary document.
  • Relate the founding of our nation to American democracy.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Declaration of Independence.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Constitution of the United States.
  • Describe the establishment of the three branches of government.
  • Recognize the roles of the major political parties in the voting process.
  • Utilize school and classroom rules.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Democracy is the principle on which our nation was founded.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 7 - 7th Grade: Civics

SS10.7C.12

Describe how the United States can be improved by individual and group participation in civic and community activities.

UP:SS10.7C.12

Vocabulary

  • civic
  • community
  • political process
  • political participation
  • political parties
  • campaigns

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Individual citizens and community groups can improve their community by actively participating in the political process. Examples of participating in the political process include voting; running for office; writing letters to office holders; being involved in political parties and political campaigns.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • List ways to actively participate in the political process and in their community.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Individual and community participation has the potential to improve the U.S. society.

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Center for Civic Education

License Type

Custom
https://www.civiced.org/voting-lessons/a-simulated-election

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.civiced.org/terms-of-service

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings

Comments or Notes

This lesson can be used at any grade level. (This lesson can be divided into two parts: a) teaching your students directly about the voting process and poll workers b) hold a class-wide or school-wide election.

The Center for Civic Education is free for teachers. Teachers do not need an account to access available resources. 

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