Lesson Idea: Simplified Mock Election
Level: intermediate
Purpose: To familiarize beginning
level students with the basic vocabulary and process involved in democratic
elections (for those who have never taken part in them).
Materials: Pictures from magazines,
paper "ballots" and "ballot box."
Time: 45 minutes
Activity:
1. Prepare for this activity by selecting pictures of people from the
newspaper or magazines. Assign fictional names to these people and give
them each a simple quotation that could summarize an election campaign,
such as:
"We need a stronger army and better roads."
"Our community wants safe schools and health clinics."
"The government should cut taxes for working people."
Glue each picture on a poster board and write in the name and quotation
under it. Create simple ballots listing each of the "candidates."
Take an empty box, cut a slot in the top, and label it "ballot
box."
sample ballot:
2. Post the "candidate" posters on the wall, and tell the
class to imagine that these individuals are running for office (i.e.
governor, mayor, senator, representative). Go over the names and quotations
from each candidate and have the class discuss the issues involved and
what each candidate might do if elected. Encourage students to consider
which issues are most important to their families and communities, and
what kind of leaders they would like to have representing them.
3. Pass out election ballots and explain to students that they can
choose one candidate, and that they don't have to tell anyone who they
are voting for. Have students check off their choice, fold the ballot,
and slip it into the ballot box.
4. Count the ballots, post the election results, i.e.:
Joe Ramos 5 votes
Mary Green 13 votes
Frank Chu 7 votes
and ask the class which candidate is the winner.
As you discuss the election experience with the class, emphasize the
following points:
oVoting is secret (you don't have to tell who you voted for).
oEach person gets one vote (it doesn't matter whether you're rich or
poor, educated or uneducated, or whether you have friends in the government.)
oElection results are public (everyone knows how many votes each candidate
got.)
Ask students when and where real elections take place in their community.
Who can vote in them? How do people know who the candidates are? How
do they decide who to vote for?
Vocabulary to emphasize: election,
candidate, run for office, vote, ballot, election results, win/won/winner
