Introduction:
Teaching kids about elections and democracy is an important part of their civic education. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or simply want to introduce the concept of elections to the little ones in your life, books can be a great resource. In this article, we’ll explore 18 books about elections that are suitable for kids of every age, along with lesson ideas to accompany each book.
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- “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin
– Lesson Idea: Have a mock election in the classroom where students can campaign for their favorite farm animal to become the “President of the Farm.”
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- “Grace for President” by Kelly DiPucchio
– Lesson Idea: Organize a classroom election where students can run for the position of “Class President” and learn about the election process.
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- “If I Ran for President” by Catherine Stier
– Lesson Idea: Ask students to come up with their own campaign slogans and create posters to promote themselves as potential candidates for class office.
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- “Vote for Me!” by Ben Clanton
– Lesson Idea: Discuss the importance of making informed decisions and encourage students to research the candidates before casting their votes in a mock election.
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- “The President of the Jungle” by André Rodrigues
– Lesson Idea: Explore the diverse roles and responsibilities of a president and encourage students to create their own imaginary animal president.
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- “Lillian’s Right to Vote” by Jonah Winter
– Lesson Idea: Teach students about the history of voting rights and have discussions about the importance of equal voting rights for all citizens.
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- “Grace Goes to Washington” by Kelly DiPucchio
– Lesson Idea: Have students write persuasive speeches about a cause that is important to them and present them to the class, just like Grace does in the book.
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- “My Teacher for President” by Kay Winters
– Lesson Idea: Have students imagine what it would be like if their teacher ran for president and encourage them to write campaign speeches in support of their teacher.
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- “Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote” by Herman Parish
– Lesson Idea: Discuss the power of individual votes and how they can collectively shape outcomes in elections.
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- “Vote for Our Future!” by Margaret McNamara
– Lesson Idea: Have students identify community issues that they care about and encourage them to brainstorm creative solutions for these problems.
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- “So You Want to be President?” by Judith St. George
– Lesson Idea: Help students understand the qualities and skills that make a good leader by creating a list of characteristics they think a president should possess.
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- “One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote” by Bonnie Worth
– Lesson Idea: Teach students about the role political parties play in elections and encourage them to research different political parties and their platforms.
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- “The Day Gogo Went to Vote” by Elinor Batezat Sisulu
– Lesson Idea: Explore the historical significance of elections in different countries and have discussions about the importance of voting in promoting democracy.
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- “Vote!” by Eileen Christelow
– Lesson Idea: Organize a classroom debate where students can argue for or against a specific issue, just like the characters in the book.
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- “Election Day” by Margaret McNamara
– Lesson Idea: Explain the process of voting, including voter registration and casting a ballot, and maybe even hold a mock election in the classroom.
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- “I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote” by Linda Arms White
– Lesson Idea: Teach students about the suffrage movement and its impact on women’s right to vote, and have discussions about the importance of gender equality.
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- “Vote! (a children’s story)” by Martin W. Sandler
– Lesson Idea: Have students create their own campaign posters and slogans to promote issues that are important to them, just like the characters in the book.
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- “If I Were President” by Catherine Stier
– Lesson Idea: Have students write persuasive essays describing what they would do if they were elected as the president, focusing on the changes they would make to improve their community.
Conclusion:
Introducing kids to the concept of elections through books can be a fun and engaging way to instill values of democracy and active citizenship from an early age. Whether they’re learning about voting rights, campaign strategies, or the qualities of a good leader, these 18 books about elections are a great starting point for discussions and activities that will empower kids to become informed and engaged citizens in the future.
