The election process and all that comes with it can often be a very long, and confusing process for even adults to completely understand. Finding quality election resources for your homeschool can be a challenge but incorporating engaging books, fun games, and activities, make it a whole-family experience and is a fun way to introduce civics and politics to your children.
A solid foundation and positive experience around politics and government are imperative to raising informed and discerning, future voters. The following election resources will be a great addition to your homeschool and making learning about an often dry and boring topic, fun and engaging.
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Websites for Teaching the Election Process to Elementary Students
iCivics.org is a comprehensive website with election resources that teach kids how elections work how voting promotes change. The site also has a few election games for kids to play to learn more about the process.
USA.gov is a great resource for older children as it offers more in-depth information on voting and elections. It goes over everything from how elections work.
PBS Election Central is a special section for kids within the PBS website. It keeps kids up-to-date with election news and teaches the process of elections and helps them explore topics like voting rights and the electoral college. The site includes kid-friendly election activities, lesson plans, and videos.
A great resource for children, We the People is brought to you by Scholastic and is created to help teach children how the government works. It also shows children how they can get involved and be an active citizen.
Finally, If you’re looking for more in-depth American government resources for your kids, one site I’ve enjoyed using throughout our homeschooling venture is Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government.
Books About the Election Process for Kids
Activities to complete before Election Day 2020
In the 11 days leading up to Election Day on November 3, 2020 we’ll be reading and working through the activities in the What is a Presidential Election Book by Douglas Yacka. If you only wanted to purchase one resource to teach your kids about the election, this book would be my first suggestion.
You can easily tackle the entire book in less than two weeks; reading one chapter per day and doing the corresponding activities. Complete with stickers and activities, this book teaches children about American politics and the presidential campaigns. There is even a fun Electoral Map poster that kids can color.
What is a Presidential Election? consists of 11 chapters and includes activities, stickers, and a poster. We’re starting the book on Friday, October 23rd which will give us enough time to do a chapter per day until the election. The book covers the basics of what a presidential election is, the meaning of checks and balances, campaigning and fundraising, The Electoral College, political parties, and debates.
If you enjoy the Who is/Who Was, WHOHQ series of books, be sure to check out the full list of books available on Amazon as well as these comprehensive Who Was Unit Study offerings from The Waldock Way. These unit studies are affordable and correspond to some of the Who Was books.
Kids Picture Books about Elections and Voting
Grace for President by Kelly DiPuccio
Grace, a little girl with big dreams, decides that since there has never been a female president, she is going to go for it. The first step is to win the school’s mock election. Grace for President teaches kids about electoral votes, polls, and why every single vote counts.
If I Were President by Catherine Stier
An informative and fun read, If I Were President by Catherine Stier covers all of the hard work that comes along with running for president. From the start of deciding to run for president to the debating and getting into office, this book is a great way to start a conversation with young kids about the presidential election.
Games Make Great Election Resources for Your Homeschool
Not only does Election Night! teach kids about the and the Electoral College, but it also helps teach kids to master addition, multiplication, and U.S. geography. Earlier this Summer, my youngest and I were sent this game from Semper Smart Games to review.
With it, he was able to learn about the Electoral College, sharpen his addition and multiplication skills, and strengthening his Geography knowledge. This was great because we’re also using the Notgrass History Our 50 States curriculum for Geography this year. The Election Night board game is a fun math game that teaches kids, (and adults) about the Electoral College as players compete to become president.
Campaign for President card game
A card game for kids 8 and up, in Campaign for President, players run to become the presidential candidate. Players battle one another through debates and other fun activities. The best player wins a trip to The White House.
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