Who will be involved?
I will work in conjunction with the other fifth grade social studies teacher to include every fifth grade student in our school. In addition to students and teachers, we will involve the county election officials for the completion of the schoolwide mock election. Parents will be the primary target audience of our literature, fliers, and videos, but we will also be placing the fliers in local businesses to encourage community members to vote.
Content Standards Addressed
Social Studies (Kentucky Core Content)
SS-05-1.3.2: Students will describe specific rights and responsibilities individuals have as citizens of the United States (e.g., voting in national elections) and explain why civic engagement is necessary to preserve a democratic society. DOK 3 SS-05-1.2.1: Students will identify the three branches of the U.S. Government, explain the basic duties of each branch (executive-enforce the laws, legislative-make the laws, judicial- interpret the laws) and identify important national/federal offices/leaders, (President, Vice-President, Congress, House, Senate, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, U.S. Supreme Court, judges) associated with each branch.
English/Language Arts (Common Core State Standards)
5.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacherled) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
a. Come to discussions prepared having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
b. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
c. Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.
d. Review the key ideas expressed and draw conclusions in light of information and knowledge gained from the discussions.
5.SL.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
5.SL.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
5.SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation.
5.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
b. Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
c. Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).
d. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
Beyond the Standards
The benefit to students participating in this project will extend far beyond the content standards it addresses. The importance of civic engagement is an important life lesson. Each year during elections, we hear more and more about fewer and fewer citizens exercising their right to vote. Participation in this project will instill the importance of civic engagement into our young students. In addition, this project will show the students that there are several ways for them to make their voices heard. As children enter adolescence, they become much more aware of the world around them and the issues that are important to them. I hope that having this opportunity to speak out and encourage adults to act will have a similar effect on them as they discover more important issues.
Specific Activities and Timeline
Week 1, August 27
Introduce three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial)
- House Mouse, Senate Mouse and Woodrow the White House Mouse
- Time
for Kids
- Social studies text
Week 2, Sept 3
Discuss importance of civic engagement, particularly voter participation
- Local
voter turnout from 2000, 2004, 2008 Presidential elections
- Compare local turnout to state,
national
- Schoolhouse
Rock
- Time
for Kids
- Social studies text
Investigate major parties and candidates, choose candidate to support
- Class debates
Write opinion pieces supporting specific candidate
Week 7, Oct 8
Prepare fliers
Week 8, Oct 15
Prepare Videos
Freaky Friday Festival will be held on October 12 or October 19. Students will hand out candidate and voting fliers during the festival.
Week 9, October 22
Fliers posted in local businesses, videos posted on class, school, and/or district websites.
November 2
Schoolwide Mock Election
Measuring Success
We will measure the success of our initiative by analyzing the local voter turnout for the 2012 presidential election. In addition to comparing the results to previous years locally, we will compare our local turnout to state and national turnout. On a smaller scale, students will report whether or not their parents voted and we will compare those results to other voter turnout numbers.
Celebration
The mock election that will be held at our school will serve as the celebratory, or culminating, activity for the project. Student groups will be asked to give brief acceptance and concession speeches when the results of the election are announced.
