How
old must you be to vote?
Can
men and women both vote?
Do
you have to pay to vote?
What
does “secret ballot” mean?
How
do you determine who wins?
The “majority
rules” is a key concept to our democracy and something that you can practice in
your classroom on a daily basis.
Let children vote on the game they want to play, the song they want to
sing, or the story they want to hear.
The teacher will still be in charge by selecting two or three options
(the outcome of which will achieve her goals), but the children will buy into
the idea because they have some voice in the matter. Voting can also contribute to the feeling of community and
team spirit in your classroom.
In my
kindergarten I set up a cardboard box on a table to be the voting booth. Children took turns checking off a
class roster as their friends voted in the booth. The ballot had two options for each of these
categories: game, story, song, and
snack. There were picture clues
along with the words so children could “read” and mark their choice. A shoebox became the ballot box and the
excitement increased as we tallied results at morning meeting.
I remember in my
history of education class that the purpose of schools in the United States was
to “educate to perpetuate a democratic citizenry.” You can plant the seeds in your classroom today and every
day by providing children with the opportunity to vote!
