A Fun Four-Day Lesson on Elections and Voting for Mirabelle

Day 1: What is a Vote? Making a Choice

Materials Needed:

• Two different, appealing snack options (e.g., apple slices and crackers)
• Paper or a small whiteboard
• A marker

Lesson Plan (15-20 minutes):

1. Warm-Up: The Big Question (5 minutes)

   Start by asking Mirabelle: "If you could only choose ONE fun thing to do this afternoon—play outside or build with blocks—which one would you pick?" Listen to her answer and ask, "Why did you pick that one?" Explain that making a choice between options is something we do every day.

2. Activity: The Super Snack Vote! (10 minutes)

   Present the two snack options. Say, "We can only have one of these for our snack today, so we need to make a group choice. Let's take a vote!"

   • On the paper or whiteboard, draw a simple picture of each snack.
   • Explain that a "vote" is how we show our choice. You get one vote.
   • Ask Mirabelle to cast her vote by placing a tally mark under the picture of the snack she wants. You should vote too!
   • Count the tally marks together. The snack with the most votes wins! Enjoy the winning snack together.
3. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

   While eating the snack, ask: "Was that a fair way to choose our snack? Why?" Introduce the idea that voting is a fair way for a group to make a decision together where everyone gets a say.

Resource Recommendations:

• Book: The Little Book of Voters by Meika Hashimoto. It's simple, colorful, and explains the power of one voice.
• YouTube: Search for "Sesame Street: Election Day." It's a fun and very simple introduction to voting with familiar characters.

Day 2: Candidates and Campaigns

Materials Needed:

• Two or three favorite stuffed animals or toys
• A large piece of paper or construction paper
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Stickers (optional)

Lesson Plan (15-20 minutes):

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

   Review yesterday's lesson. Ask, "Do you remember how we chose our snack yesterday? What was it called?" (A vote!). Explain that when people vote for a leader, the choices are called "candidates."

2. Activity: The Stuffed Animal Mayor Election (10 minutes)

   Introduce the stuffed animals. Say, "We are going to elect a 'Stuffed Animal Mayor' for our homeschool! These are our candidates."

   • Ask Mirabelle to choose ONE candidate she wants to support.
   • Explain that to get other people to vote for your candidate, you run a campaign. A campaign is how you tell everyone why your choice is the best one.
   • Help Mirabelle create a campaign poster for her chosen candidate. On the poster, she should draw the animal and you can help her write 1-2 reasons why it would be a good mayor (e.g., "Teddy is the best because he is cuddly and a good listener."). Encourage her to make it colorful and exciting.
3. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

   Let Mirabelle present her campaign poster. Ask her to explain, in her own words, why her candidate should win. Hang the poster in a visible spot. Tell her that tomorrow, we'll get ready to actually vote!

Resource Recommendations:

• Book: Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio. This is a fantastic story about a girl who runs in her school's mock election.
• Twinkl Resource: Search on Twinkl.com for "Design a Campaign Poster" or "Election Rosette Template" for some fun, printable craft activities.

Day 3: How to Vote: Ballots and Ballot Boxes

Materials Needed:

• An empty tissue box or shoebox (the "ballot box")
• Small slips of paper (the "ballots")
• Pen or marker
• Index card and crayons for a "Voter Registration Card"
• The campaign poster(s) from yesterday

Lesson Plan (15-20 minutes):

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

   Watch a short, simple video about voting. A great choice is "Voting for Kids" by Homeschool Pop on YouTube. It clearly explains ballots and ballot boxes.

2. Activity: Let's Get Ready to Vote! (10 minutes)

   Say, "Today we're going to create everything we need for our election tomorrow!"

   • Make the Ballot Box: Let Mirabelle decorate the empty box. Cut a slit in the top that's big enough for a slip of paper to go through. Label it "BALLOT BOX."
   • Make a Voter Card: On an index card, help Mirabelle make her own "Voter Registration Card." She can write her name, draw a self-portrait, and decorate it. Explain that in real elections, grown-ups have to register to make sure everyone only votes one time.
   • Prepare the Ballots: On the small slips of paper, draw a simple picture of each stuffed animal candidate with a box next to it. Prepare one ballot for each person who will vote.
3. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

   Practice the process. Show Mirabelle a ballot and explain, "Tomorrow, you will make a check mark or an X in the box for the candidate you choose. Then, you'll fold your ballot so it's a secret and put it in the box." Let her do a practice run with a blank piece of paper.

Resource Recommendations:

• YouTube: "Voting for Kids | Why Voting is Important" by Homeschool Pop.
• Twinkl Resource: Search for "U.S. Elections Ballot Box Craft" or download their "U.S. Election Voting Booth Role-Play Pack" for lots of great printables.

Day 4: Election Day!

Materials Needed:

• The completed ballot box
• The prepared ballots
• The stuffed animal candidates and campaign poster(s)
• A pen or crayon for marking ballots
• A piece of paper for tallying the votes

Lesson Plan (15-20 minutes):

1. Warm-Up (3 minutes)

   Announce, "Today is Election Day!" Review the candidates one last time. Let Mirabelle give her campaign speech again, using her poster to remind everyone why her choice is the best.

2. Activity: Cast Your Vote and Count! (12 minutes)

   It's time for the official election!

   • Give a ballot to Mirabelle and any other family members participating.
   • Have everyone go to a private spot (a "voting booth") to mark their ballot. Remind them it's a secret vote.
   • One by one, have everyone come up, show their Voter Registration Card (just for fun!), and place their folded ballot into the ballot box.
   • Once all votes are in, open the box together. Unfold each ballot one at a time and show it to everyone.
   • On a separate piece of paper, make a tally mark for each candidate as you count the votes.
3. Wrap-Up: Announce the Winner! (5 minutes)

   Count the final tally marks and declare the winner! The new Stuffed Animal Mayor is elected! Explain that the winner has a special job now. For example, the new "mayor" gets to sit in a special chair during read-aloud time for the whole next week. This connects the idea of winning an election to having a responsibility to the "community." Talk about how even if our first choice doesn't win, we respect the results because it was a fair vote.

Resource Recommendations:

• Book: Duck for President by Doreen Cronin. It's a hilarious book that shows the entire process from campaigning to running things once elected.
• Twinkl Resource: Use the "U.S. Election Word Mat" to review vocabulary like vote, ballot, candidate, and election. You could also use their "I Voted" stickers for a fun reward.