The election is just around the corner! As a result, there is a lot of buzz surrounding the 2024 presidential ballot. Speaking of buzz, Jacob Soboroff certainly created one when he interviewed Oakland, California high school student, Marcus. Watch as Marcus “schools us” about the roles and responsibilities of the Vice President of the United States, all while giving a shout-out to those – real-life skills – civics teachers!
If you plan to teach about the election this year, it’s essential to approach it thoughtfully. Election discussions offer valuable opportunities to engage students in civic life, but they also come with the responsibility of staying unbiased and fostering critical thinking. Whether you’re focusing on the election process, discussing the importance of voting, or analyzing media coverage, the goal is to create an open, fact-based, and balanced classroom environment.
Below, you’ll find general resources to refresh your understanding of government, sharpen your election-related vocabulary, and to be sure you are ready to address students’ questions:
- Teach the Election Process to Elementary Students | HMH Education
- “The Civically Engaged Classroom: A Guide for Teaching During the Election,” by Mary Ehrenworth, Marc Todd, and Pablo Wolfe
- “Teaching in an Election Season: Rights and Responsibilities,” from inquirED
- “Teaching Resources for the US Elections,” from Facing History & Ourselves
- “Election 2024: Be informed, not misled,” from News Literacy Project, News Literacy Project’s Election Flipboard
- “Campaign 2024: The Road to the White House,” from C-SPAN Classroom (Click on the tabs on the left side of the home page, to view a variety of election-related categories)
- “Election lessons and activities to teach about the voting process,” by Adam Franklin from Nearpod (Sign up for a free educator account and get access to all of the resources!)
- “9 Picture Books About Voting and Elections,” by Dolisha Mitchell from PBS
- “Election Headquarters,” from iCivics
- “Civics Education: Teaching about Elections and Citizenship,” from the National Education Association
- “Election Central,” from PBS Learning Media
- Election 2024 for Kids, from Twinkl Teaching Resources
Likely, your students have varying levels of understanding about the election. These government websites will boost your knowledge and provide trusted sources for when they have questions.
- Branches of Government, from USA.org
- Voter Registration Rules, from Vote.org
- How the President is Elected, from USA.gov
- How, When, and Where to Vote, from USA.gov
- Electoral College, from USA.gov
- Right to Vote, from USA.gov
- “15th Amendment,” from History.org
- “19th Amendment,” from History.org
Politics and civics can feel like a sensitive subject in the classroom, but you don’t have to navigate this challenge alone! Teaching Channel is offering a FREE 1-hour Professional Development Course on Covering the Election in the Classroom. This free PD opportunity includes a variety of resources, guides, tips, and tricks for teaching and talking about the election in your classroom.
Election Day is November 5th! If you aren’t sure whether you’re registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status with Vote America and Find Your Polling Place on the usa.gov site.
See you at the polls!
About the Author
Susanne Leslie is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. As a parent educator, Susanne’s specialty is Culture and Early Childhood instruction. In her current role, she writes courses and content, focusing on our Hybrid Blended Learning courses.
Fun Fact: Susanne has jumped out of two (perfectly good) airplanes!
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