Are you looking for fun election day activities for elementary students? As we gear up for the next presidential election, it’s the perfect time to bring the excitement of voting day into your classroom.
Teaching students about the election process is a valuable lesson in citizenship and democracy. It’s important to teach students how fortunate we are to live in a country where we get to vote!
To help you make this topic engaging for your students, I’ve put together a list of fun activities that will spark their interest and deepen their understanding of our presidential election.
Be sure to scroll all the way to the end of this post so you can also see two videos that you can use (depending on your grade level) to teach your students about voting!
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Election Day Role Play
Organize a classroom election where students can campaign for classroom job positions like “Class Helper” or “Technology Assistant.” This helps students understand the voting process and the importance of participating in elections.
Vote for Class Pet
Host a “Vote for Our Class Pet” event, allowing students to nominate and vote for a class pet. Have students participate in a class discussion about what type of pet would be most practical. (If you do decide to get a class pet, a beta fish is very easy to care for!)
Create Campaign Posters
Let students design campaign posters for their favorite book characters, historical figures, or even classroom supplies. You can even have students create campaign posters for the classroom job they would like to be elected to.
Learn About Voting and the Election Process
This resource is part of my Election Day Bundle. It includes posters, a mini book, vocabulary, and even photo props to celebrate and teach your students about Voting Day!
Campaign Speeches
Encourage students to write and deliver short campaign speeches for a change they would like to see in the school or classroom. This could be as simple as being allowed to play tag on the playground, having a longer lunch period, to no homework! This activity is perfect for practicing speaking and listening skills. You can also have them write a speech about a certain classroom job they would like to get.
Election Vocabulary Bingo & Word Search
Introduce patriotic vocabulary with a fun game of bingo! This resource is perfect for any national holiday! Students will cut apart their bingo pieces to create their own customized board for the game! I also have a fun Election Day word search!
Design a Voting Booth
Create a voting booth for classroom elections to simulate the authentic voting experience! You can use a giant cardboard box to make your voting booth. (Tip: Have a large multipack of paper towels shipped to your house. They always come in big boxes and you can use the box to make your voting booth!) Cut out one side of the box as an opening and hang streamers of blue crepe paper to be a privacy curtain.
Voting Reading Passages
You can also find these reading passages in my Election Day Resource bundle. There are three passages, two nonfiction and one fiction. The two nonfiction topics are Becoming President of the United States and Women Gaining the Right to Vote! The passages include comprehension questions.
Research Past Presidents
Explore the lives and contributions of past presidents! You can find some Presidents’ Day videos to watch on YouTube!
Classroom Constitution
Work together to draft a classroom constitution that outlines the rights, responsibilities, and laws (rules) of your classroom.
Voting Read Alouds for Kids
There are so many voting and election-themed children’s books! Here are a few your students will love:
- Grace For President
- If I Ran For President
- Duck For President
- I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference
Videos to Teach Students About Voting Day
This video is great for lower elementary:
And this video would be great for upper elementary:
By incorporating these activities into your curriculum, you can instill an appreciation for the democratic process and empower your students to become engaged citizens. Let’s inspire the next generation of voters!
What other fun and educational activities do you have planned for teaching about presidential elections?
Get the Election Day BUNDLE of Resources Mentioned in this Post Here:
