Fun Election Lesson Plan for 1st Grade & Kindergarten | Homeschool Civics

Teach kids about elections with this fun, 4-day homeschool lesson plan perfect for 1st grade and kindergarten. This hands-on social studies unit explains voting, campaigns, and counting ballots through engaging activities like a mock 'Snack Election' and a 'Stuffy President' campaign. Includes a complete materials list and daily activities to make learning civics easy and memorable for young students.

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4-Day Homeschool Lesson Plan: Understanding Elections

Student: Mirabelle, Age 6 (1st Grade)

Complete Materials & Prep List for the Week

Gather these items before Day 1 to make each day's lesson quick and easy.

  • Worksheets & Printables:
    • Great Snack Election Ballot (4-5 copies for friends/family)
    • Great Snack Election Graphing Worksheet (1 copy)
    • Voter Registration Card (1 copy)
    • Design an Election Campaign Poster Worksheet (1 copy)
    • (Optional) Election Vocabulary Read and Write the Room cards
  • Art & School Supplies:
    • Crayons, markers, and colored pencils
    • Construction paper or poster board (for the campaign poster if not using the worksheet)
    • Pencil
    • Tape
    • A special box or bowl to use as a "ballot box"
  • Technology & Books:
    • Device to watch a YouTube video (tablet, computer, etc.)
    • Book Suggestion (from library): Duck for President by Doreen Cronin or Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio.
    • Video Suggestion: Search YouTube for "Sesame Street: Election Day" or "PBS Kids: What is Voting?" (simple, short videos are best).
  • Other Items:
    • 3-4 of Mirabelle's favorite stuffed animals
    • The winning snack from Day 2 (to enjoy as a prize!)
    • A special chair or spot for the winning "Stuffy President"

Day 1: What is a Vote?

Time: 15-20 minutes

Objective: Mirabelle will understand that an election is a way for a group to make a choice, and a vote is a person's choice.

Materials Needed:

  • A short, simple YouTube video about voting (like "Sesame Street: Election Day")
  • Children's Dictionary
  • The "Great Snack Election Ballot" printable
  • Pencil or crayon

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction & Video (5 mins)

    What to Say: "Hi Mirabelle! This week, we're going to learn about something grown-ups do called an 'election.' It sounds like a big word, but it's really just a special way to make a choice together. Let's watch this quick video to see what it's all about!"

    What to Do: Watch the selected video together. Cuddle up and make it fun. After the video, ask a simple question like, "So, what did you see them doing in the video to make a choice?"

  2. Vocabulary (3 mins)

    What to Say: "In the video, they used the word 'vote.' Let's look that up in our dictionary! A vote is just your own special choice. When lots of people vote, it's called an election. It's how we pick one thing when everyone might want something different."

    What to Do: Help Mirabelle find the word "vote" in the children's dictionary. Read the simple definition together.

  3. Set up The Great Snack Election (7 mins)

    What to Say: "Let's have our very own election! We need to choose the Official Snack of the Week. I need your help picking the choices. What are three of your favorite snacks?"

    What to Do: Take out the "Great Snack Election Ballot." Help Mirabelle write down her top 3 snack choices on the ballot (e.g., Goldfish, Apples, Cookies). Help her cast her first vote by checking the box next to her favorite.

    What to Say: "Great! You just voted! Now, for an election to work, we need more people to vote. I'm going to send a picture of this ballot to a few of our friends and family, and they will text me their vote. We will count them all up tomorrow!"

Independent Work Option:

Let Mirabelle decorate the "ballot box" with crayons and stickers where you will collect the "votes" (text messages you receive).

Day 2: Counting the Votes!

Time: 15 minutes

Objective: Mirabelle will participate in counting votes and see how a winner is determined using a simple graph.

Materials Needed:

  • The votes you collected via text from friends/family
  • "Great Snack Election Graphing Worksheet"
  • Crayons
  • Pencil

Lesson Steps:

  1. Tallying the Votes (8 mins)

    What to Say: "It's time to see the results of our Great Snack Election! I have all the votes right here from our friends. Let's count them. We can make a tally mark for each vote."

    What to Do: On a spare piece of paper or whiteboard, write the names of the three snack choices. As you read each text message vote aloud (e.g., "Grandma voted for apples!"), have Mirabelle make a tally mark next to that snack. Count them up together at the end.

  2. Graphing the Winner (7 mins)

    What to Say: "This is so exciting! Let's put our results on this graph so we can clearly see which snack won. A graph is like a picture of numbers. For every vote the apples got, let's color in one box above the apple picture."

    What to Do: Guide Mirabelle as she fills out the "Great Snack Election Graphing Worksheet." Help her color in the correct number of boxes for each snack choice based on your tally marks. This worksheet is a perfect item for her portfolio!

    What to Say: "Look at your graph! Which snack has the tallest tower? That's our winner! That means [Winning Snack] is the Official Snack of the Week!"

Independent Work Option:

Mirabelle can draw a picture of herself enjoying the winning snack.

Day 3: Campaign for a Cuddly Candidate

Time: 20 minutes

Objective: Mirabelle will create a campaign poster to persuade others to vote for her chosen candidate.

Materials Needed:

  • 3-4 of Mirabelle's favorite stuffed animals
  • "Voter Registration Card" printable
  • "Design an Election Campaign Poster" worksheet (or blank paper)
  • Crayons and markers

Lesson Steps:

  1. Choosing a Candidate (5 mins)

    What to Say: "Today, we're starting a new, very important election. We need to elect a Stuffy President! The winner's job will be to sit with us every time we read a book this week. Who do you think would be a good president? Who is the best listener? Who is the cuddliest?"

    What to Do: Line up the stuffed animal "candidates." Let Mirabelle choose which one she wants to support. Let's say she chooses her teddy bear.

  2. Voter Registration (5 mins)

    What to Say: "Before you can vote in a big election, you have to register. That just means you write down your name to show you are ready to vote. Let's fill out your official voter registration card."

    What to Do: Help her fill out the playful "Voter Registration Card" with her name, age, and a little drawing. This is another great portfolio item.

  3. Create a Campaign Poster (10 mins)

    What to Say: "Now you need to help your candidate win! We are going to make a campaign poster. A poster tells people why they should vote for someone. What is a good reason someone should vote for your teddy bear? Is he 'The Best Cuddler'? Is he 'A Great Listener'? Let's write that on the poster and draw a picture of him!"

    What to Do: Give Mirabelle the poster worksheet or a blank paper. Help her write a simple slogan like "VOTE FOR TEDDY!" and one reason why (e.g., "He Gives the Best Hugs"). Then, let her get creative drawing her candidate. When she's done, take a picture of her holding it. This is the main project for her portfolio!

Independent Work Option:

Mirabelle can write a short "speech" for her candidate (one or two sentences) and practice reading it to you.

Day 4: Stuffy Election Day!

Time: 10-15 minutes

Objective: Mirabelle will see the final result of an election and understand the winner has a special role.

Materials Needed:

  • The picture of Mirabelle's campaign poster
  • A list of "votes" from friends/family (you'll text them the candidate choices the day before)
  • The stuffed animal candidates
  • A special chair or pillow for the winner
  • A book to read

Lesson Steps:

  1. Announcing the Results (7 mins)

    What to Say: "Good morning, Mirabelle, and welcome to Election Day! Your campaign poster was fantastic. I sent a picture of the candidates to our friends and family, and the votes are in! Let's count them together."

    What to Do: Just like on Day 2, read the votes aloud and make tally marks for each candidate. Let Mirabelle do the counting. Build up the suspense!

  2. Inauguration Ceremony (5 mins)

    What to Say: "And the winner, and new Stuffy President of Reading Time, is... [Winner's Name]! Congratulations! Let's get them ready for their new job."

    What to Do: Have a mini-celebration. Place the winning stuffed animal in their special reading chair. You can even have the other "candidates" congratulate the winner.

  3. The President's First Job (Ongoing)

    What to Say: "Mr. President is ready for his first duty. Let's read our first book with him!"

    What to Do: Sit down and read a book together with the new Stuffy President. Make sure the president has a good view! For the rest of the week, make it a point to bring the "president" to every reading session to reinforce the outcome of the election.

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