Election and Voting Simulation -- Candy-dates

This is a complete multi-day lesson plan where students are taking part in a democratic process!

Includes:

- PowerPoint

- Persuasive Essay Organizer

- Ballot cards

- Voter's Registration Cards

- Candidate explanations/background

When I taught this lesson, I began by going through the PowerPoint titled, “Elections and Voting”. This will walk you through what to do step-by-step. Students will fill out Voter’s Registration cards in which they will bring with them to cast their first vote! Before voting takes place, it’s important that students are aware of the voting process. In order to make a well-informed vote, you must know a little about your candidates. In this case (to keep from a political argument or any sort of conflict in your classroom), students will be voting on their favorite candy! They will read up on each of the choices. 

After students have chosen their candy-date, they will have the opportunity to campaign on behalf of their chosen treat. When I taught this lesson, students wrote a persuasive paper (which is located in this Google File!). Students then read this allowed to a partner – their goal was to change the other person’s opinion! Super fun and provided the ability to work on their persuasive writing skills, too. 

Students one at a time were called to the voting station and they filled out a ballot and placed it in the ballot box. 

I considered that the primary election. The top two candy-dates moved onto the final election, which I personally did online using Google Forms – it gave students the experience of using an absentee-type ballot. It was fun because on the monitor I had the voting results posted live so students could watch the count. The following day I provided students with the candy that won!