The objective of this lesson is to introduce students to the election process and to reinforce the Social Studies Curriculum covered in the classroom. In NYS, our students take a test in Social Studies and government is one of its focuses. The state standard addressed in this lesson:

V. Civics, Citizenship, Government

5.2. Awareness of basic civic values embodied in state/fed. Constitutions

5.3. Understanding citizen roles, rights, responsibilities w/in a democracy
A second objective is to cause excitement about reading and good books, providing motivation for students' leisure reading.

Christelow, Eileen Vote!

poster of the "Do you know these words?" page at the back of the book.
chart paper

Website: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/election/elecprocess.html
to introduce students to the idea of the Electoral College

Meet with students in a large group venue. The book will be in view of all students. Lead off question: Why don't you vote? If students don't know the answer, it's a great time to say that the answer is in the book.

Next I would draw their attention to the poster of vocabulary words they will encounter when I read the text aloud. Other vocabulary I plan to highlight not on this poster:

constitution govern registration amendments registration

These vocabulary words will be charted.

After the vocabulary is covered, I would read Vote! by Eileen Christelow.
The next step is to tell the students that we are going to have an election at Willow Field for three fiction books that students think are "must reads" for their level. The election rules are as follows:

-all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students that attend WFE and register are eligible to vote

 -anyone may nominate a book but must have read the nomination
each nomination will have to be backed by a petition of signatures from registered voters

-the number of signatures required equals 10% of our school's 4-6 grade population

-nominations with verified signatures become candidates
the student who initially nominated the book represents it in the campaign
Students may promote their candidate via posters, letters to read during library classes and the school-wide announcements

-The election will take place on the Tuesday on or after November 2nd; the date for 2004 is November 2nd.

-This lesson will take place over multiple class periods.

-The website on the electoral college will be utilized after the steps necessary to hold the election but before the actual election itself.