Engaging Activity: Creating a Mock Election

Title: Creating a Mock Election

Compliance: Common Core State Standards for Civics and Government

Subject: Civics

Summary: Engage students in the democratic process by organizing and conducting a mock election in the classroom.

Topic: Mock Election - Learning about the Democratic Process

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the democratic process and the importance of elections
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy
• Explain the purpose and significance of voting
• Analyze political campaigns and the role of media in elections
• Develop critical thinking and decision-making skills

Methodology:

This activity will involve a combination of research, group work, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Students will work in groups to create their own political parties, develop campaign platforms, and conduct a mock election campaign.

Resources/Materials Required:

• Textbooks or online resources on civics and elections
• Access to computers or tablets for research
• Art supplies for creating campaign materials (posters, flyers, etc.)
• Ballots and ballot boxes
• Access to a classroom or school-wide voting system (if available)

Instructions:

1. Introduce the concept of elections and the democratic process to the students. Discuss the importance of elections in a democracy and the role of citizens in the decision-making process.
2. Divide the students into groups and assign each group a specific political party. Encourage them to research different political parties and their platforms for inspiration.
3. In their groups, students should develop a campaign platform based on their party's values and beliefs. They should consider important issues, propose solutions, and create persuasive arguments to convince their classmates to vote for their party.
4. Provide time for students to create campaign materials such as posters, flyers, and speeches. Encourage them to be creative and use persuasive techniques to attract voters.
5. Organize a mock election day in the classroom. Set up a polling station with ballot boxes and provide each student with a ballot. If available, use a classroom or school-wide voting system for a more realistic experience.
6. After the election, tally the votes and announce the winning party. Facilitate a discussion about the election process, the importance of voting, and the role of media in influencing voters.
7. Conclude the activity with a reflection session where students discuss what they learned about the democratic process, the challenges they faced during the campaign, and the impact of their choices as voters.

Assessment:

Assess students' understanding and participation throughout the activity using the following criteria:

• Research and understanding of the democratic process (Know)
• Development of a persuasive campaign platform (Understand)
• Creation of effective campaign materials (Can do)
• Active participation in the mock election and reflection session (Can do)