Election Day

After studying government in Social Studies, we recently held an election in our classroom.  The process began when the students chose several animals to represent our class and to become our class symbol.  The choices were narrowed down to Gatorbites, Wizards, Hamsters, and Dolphins.  Next, the students created campaign posters attempting to sway their fellow classmates into voting for their choice.  Finally, Election Day arrived. 

Using props found in the classroom, the students recreated a real election. Next, they filled out ballots checking off their choices.  The security guard (Trent) allowed one voter at a time behind the curtain to place his secret ballot into the official voting box.  Then, the votes were tallied, a bar graph created, and with lots of hoopla and just a little whining, our new class symbol was elected....... Hamsters! Yes, one of the whiners was Mrs. Mann (I really wanted Gatorbites since one of my daughters attends University of Florida!).  You may now refer to our class as Mrs. Mann's Heavenly Hamsters!  They show their halos constantly!  Well, most of the time.  

This activity helped our class to understand the election process and why it is important to vote.  Though they enjoyed this activity, we will not be getting a hamster for a class pet anytime soon!  I had too many hamster bites when my girls had hamsters as pets!  We will certainly keep a picture of them on our classroom wall though!