Learning about Elections in 5th Grade

by Madeleine Mackenzie, 5th Grade Teacher

 

Here in 5th grade, we’ve had a busy month. 5th graders have been turning in work to complete their first quarter of middle school, preparing for their first ever conferences…and learning all about the election. While they do have favorites in the lower school election, the majority of our focus has been on the US Election taking place tomorrow, as of when I’m writing this. 

 

We’ve spent the past few weeks covering the basics of elections. History of voter rights, the electoral college, a pledge to register to vote when they are eligible, the electoral college, local and national issues and candidates, the electoral college, the debate, a walk through of my own (blank) ballot, and discussions about the power voting holds. Oh, and did I mention the electoral college? Over the last week, a subset of 5th grade election nerds found themselves deep in the weeds, toggling potential outcomes with an interactive electoral college map, trying to determine potential outcomes. They waver between enthusiastic optimism and…slightly less enthusiastic optimism. 5th graders are very much at the age where they are confident that if they believe something, everyone else believes it too.

 

It’s weeks like this that I think back to previous elections and governments in awe of how little we know right now, and how quickly things change. Has a president ever won the popular vote but lost the election? Sure! I can tell you two off the top of my head, but there have been more! Certifying the vote? A final ceremony at the end of the long election season, except for sometimes, when other things get in the way, like an insurrection. 

 

As we discuss the election in class, we talk about the importance of always using respectful language, even when we disagree with a candidate. We talk about how there might be people in our class who support a different candidate, and we can love them regardless of how they or their family choose to vote. We talk about voting in alignment with our values, and with hope, and with love and respect for our community. We talk about voting for those who cannot, and how even those who cannot vote can take action - writing letters, talking to community members, knocking on doors, and volunteering to work in elections. (It’s very fun! Ask me how I know.) And with that, who do you think will win the election? Koala, Ibex or Sloth? My money’s on the koala.