Anyone doing a unit study on the election process?

[frugalmamatx]

As I was working on lesson plans today, I discovered that the US Government workbook I planned on using this year has exactly the right amount of pages to turn it into a unit study on the election process! So - give me your best ideas to flesh out studying about elections, The Constitution, how government works, etc for a 5th grader. 

 

I'd also like to do some type of related field trip {more than just taking her with when I go vote} - any ideas? 

[TheAttachedMama]

Which workbook are you using?

[frugalmamatx]

Which workbook are you using?

 

oops should have put that in the post. It's this one - https://www.amazon.com/Skills-Scholars-Government-Works-Grade/dp/0768235359?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 

It has 63 pages, and since we'll start back August 1st it works out to have us finish it up just before the election. 

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

If you are close enough to your state Capitol, that would be a good field trip. Maybe sit in the gallery when your legislature is in session. A political event would also be good. If you are close to DC or Philadelphia area, I can recommend other places.

[Sherry in OH]

In addition to visiting your state government offices, you could visit county or city offices.  You could also stop in at one of your local political party offices.

 

My fifth grader's assigned reading list includes Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts.  

[Momto6inIN]

I'm doing it with a 3rd grader, so probably way too simplified for a 5th grader, but for what it's worth ...

 

I'm using The Election Activity Book, I think I got it at Rainbow Resource. So DD will be making an election timeline, doing some polling, making her own ad/slogan/poster, writing about "What I'd do if I were President", etc. Then she'll read Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts and How the US Government Works, both by Syl Sobel.

 

We've already been to the Capitol, so her main field trip will probably just be going with me to vote. :)

[Mona]

We used the Homeschool in the Woods lap pack for US Elections and Our Constitution Rocks

[Junie]

Farrar's dh wrote a free e-book geared toward children about the presidential elections.  He did a really good job with it and I used it with my high schoolers who are doing a political science class.

 

Here's the thread where she introduced it:  http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/563681-free-ebook-about-presidential-elections/?hl=%2Bpresidential+%2Belection&do=findComment&comment=6783065

[SkateLeft]

I'm going to do a whole year of US government with my 5th grader next year. My 10th grader will also be doing government & economics, so it's been fun planning two different levels of all this stuff.

 

I'm still pulling together the resources that I want to use (mostly stuff off my own shelves that I've collected over the years), but here are a few recommendations.

 

The US government Federal Citizen Information Center has a couple of free educational posters you can order or download. One is called "How to Become President" and the other is "Three Branches of Government."

 

Some books specifically on the election process:

Bad Kitty For President by Nick Bruel

See How They Run by Goodman and Smith

America Votes by Granfield and Bjorkman

 

iCivics.org has some fun online games and lesson plans

 

Edited July 11, 2016 by ghostwheel