Multiple studies have proven that when teenagers participate in voting, even a mock election, they are more likely to vote as adults; additionally, their parents have a higher voter turnout in that year’s election. Be the cause of this highest form of civic engagement!

This year, let’s leave the way-out-of-date textbook behind and take students straight to the front-page news of today with primary sources, news articles and editorials, data graphs, and official campaign websites to answer the question, “What does it mean to vote in America?”

There’s lots of flexibility to tailor to your upcoming local election, students’ interests, and time constraints.

Included in this Voting & Election Day Activity Kit:

Overview:

• At-a-glance Overview sheet and detailed daily lesson plans for you
• Conceptual note-taking form for students to build their understanding of voting

Student Activities:

• Voting Rights Timeline match-up: work in teams to determine when groups of Americans received the right to vote
• Voting Rights podcast: jot down the fascinating facts about the history of voting rights in America while listening to an engaging Civics 101 podcast
• Voting Requirements: research the rules and deadlines to register to vote and cast a ballot in your state
• Voting Methods Pro/Con: research ways voting is done in America, from mail-in ballots to photo ID requirements to automatic registration
• Voter Turnout graph gallery walk: explore various data graphs on the complex issue of low voter turnout in U.S. elections
• How We Vote podcast: jot down the fascinating facts about Election Day logistics over time in America while listening to an engaging Civics 101 podcast
• Voting Around the World: examine and compare election day photos and voting laws from other nations

This resource is 27 PDF pages, plus Google files.

Additional Information

What grades is this intended for?
This was designed for a mixed-ability high school level. However, these activities should still work for middle school. Please look over the description and preview closely to decide. 

What supports are included? How can I modify this?
Activities are built with included supports to accommodate varying needs: graphic organizers, step-by-step chunking, small-group and low-stakes student talk, etc.  

Student materials come in editable Google file versions to allow you to modify activities by shortening, re-leveling, translating, or using text-to-speech software to support student needs. 

Can I use this in a homeschooling setting?

Sure! While these activities were designed for a traditional classroom setting, they can also be used in a solo or small-group setting.

Is this editable? What file types does this resource come in?

The main resource is a secured, non-editable PDF file intended to be printed. Included are links to editable Google files of all the student materials.

What standards does this address?

Several! Standards vary, but this resource supports these from various states:

• Simulate the steps of being an informed voter
• Explain trends and causes of voter turnout
• Analyze data in a variety of forms on a contemporary issue
• Analzye voting methods and procedures at the local, state, and national level

What are the terms of use for this resource?

This resource, including all ancillary files, may be used as needed for regular, non-commercial single-classroom use between a teacher and their students. 

This includes printing copies and sharing digital files with students through a secure platform, like Google Classroom or Canvas, email, or a classroom-only shared drive.

The using and sharing of any part of this resource in any manner outside the above-mentioned capacity is strictly prohibited. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to,

• posting files on the open internet or in a Facebook group
• emailing files to or sharing print copies with others (without purchasing additional licenses)
• uploading or storing files in a shared cloud drive accessible by anyone other than students
• including any part, or any derivative work, within any commercial endeavor like curriculum development, professional training, or for-profit teaching like Outschool, or selling this resource as your own in either print or digital formats

Doing so violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright law, and these terms.

By downloading this resource from Let’s Cultivate Greatness, the original user has been granted one license for a single teacher (or number of teachers matching the number of licenses purchased) and their students at any one time. 

Let’s Cultivate Greatness retains the full copyright of this resource.

Reviews

I cannot recommend this resource enough! As a first-year AP teacher, this has been a total and complete lifesaver during my short planning times! – Kaylee J.

This was an engaging way to introduce voting rights and concepts to my government students. Several were surprised that voting rights weren’t spelled out in the Constitution, despite us having gone over the Constitution earlier. – Cody S.

This resource is detailed, organized, and thorough. It was exactly what I was looking for in my high school special education classroom. Thank you for all your hard work that went into making this product! – Fellow TPT Seller