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Teaching Kids About Civic Participation & Voting During This Election Season

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by Logan Brody • Published on • Last modified on
Education

Each election season, whether it’s focused on federal, state or municipal elections, is an opportunity to introduce children and teens to the topics of civic participation, voting, and the essential functions of a Democracy. Understanding how our government works and that we can all be participants in creating positive change is important to help cultivate the ethical behavior and personal responsibility required for civic engagement.

Exploring America’s history of elections and voting rights allows us to discuss nation-wide issues and perspectives, as well as how our country’s system of governance has impacted other democracies around the world. Closer to home, while many people may see Presidential elections as having the greatest impact on our country, it’s down-ballot voting—or elections for political office at other levels, like local or state—that make a huge impact on our day to day lives. Offering young people context and insight into the political process and diversity of elected positions, from Town Supervisor and Comptroller to Mayor and Governor, illustrates the significance of how participating in these “off year” elections really effects us all.

Inspire student engagement, highlight the importance of voting, and educate about our system of government with the videos, activities, and interactive tools below. From thinking critically about today’s local and national issues to investigating the history of voting rights in America, these curated resources can help young people better understand the importance of civic participation and elections.

Civic Participation & Voting
History of Voting & Elections
Books, Games & Activities

Learn About Civic Participation & Voting

Grades Pre K-K

In the Neighborhood Voting Booth | Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Queen Sara and King Friday want to put a new piece of playground equipment in the playground, but they can only choose one – a swing or a slide. Daniel Tiger is asked to vote on which he’d like in the new playground. His father explains the process of voting, Daniel makes his choice, then the votes are counted.

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Grades 6-12

What Is a Referendum? | Simple Civics

Learn about the referendum, a form of legislating that gives everyday citizens the power to vote directly on laws that shape our society, in this video from Simple Civics.

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Grades 3-8

NY& Civics Collection

Learn how voting and government work in New York State. Explore the basics about voter registration, voter fraud, voter suppression, and NYS’s three branches of government. Analyze the importance of NYS voter participation, the youth vote, and local elections. Discover what NYS is doing to improve access to the ballot box. This collection features videos, teaching tips, discussion questions, and activities to guide instruction and support students’ understanding of the significance of being informed and civically engaged.

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Grades 6-12

Should We Make Voting Mandatory? | America From Scratch

Imagine being required to vote by penalty of law. Sound a little extreme? Maybe. But for other countries around the world, it’s a reality, and it helps get people to the polls. Meanwhile, in the U.S., only 55 percent of eligible people cast a vote for president in 2016. As we question what our country would look like if we started from scratch, host Toussaint Morrison explores the possibility of mandatory voting.

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Grades 3-12

Electoral Systems | Social Studies Shorts

Democracies around the world have elections to fill the jobs in government. In this episode of Social Studies Shorts, learn about just a few of the electoral systems that the United States uses for local, state and federal elections. Explore them all – first-past-the-post, ranked choice, and two round systems of voting – in the setting of a classroom election for favorite snack.

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History of Voting & Elections in America

Grades 3-12

Election Central Collection

Voting and elections are an essential part of democracy. Keep up with election news, study the history and process of elections, learn about voting rights, and engage in classroom debates with these videos, activities, and lesson plans. Encourage your students to think critically about local and national issues and create media voicing their perspectives and advocating for change.

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Grades 9-12

How Elections REALLY Work | Civics Made Easy

In this episode of Civics Made Easy, host Ben Sheehan unravels the complexities of American elections, from the agricultural origins of Tuesday voting to the modern patchwork of state and county election systems. Sheehan breaks down who runs our elections, how they work, why Election Day is on a Tuesday in November and speaks with Commissioner Benjamin Hovland from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to better understand the inner workings of our elections.

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Grades 6-12

History of U.S. Voting Rights | Things Explained

Who can vote today looked a lot different from those who could vote when the United States was first founded. This video covers the history of voting rights, including women’s suffrage, Black disenfranchisement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the various methods American voters can cast their ballots today.

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Grades 9-12

Campaigns and Elections: The 2000 Election | Retro Report

After the 2000 election night ended with no clear winner and exposed flaws in our voting system, there was a push for reforms to make elections run more smoothly. Introduce students to the Bush v. Gore election recount and illustrate the aftermath of that event: Instead of reforms, there was a change toward an even more politicized electoral process. After watching, engage in conversation about the past and future of voting rights and voter suppression.

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Grades 9-12

Origins of Democracy | Preserving Democracy

Learn about ancient and Enlightenment thinkers that influenced the origins of American Democracy in this video from Preserving Democracy. Utilizing video, discussion questions, and teaching tips, students explore the benefits and drawbacks of a democracy.

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Books, Games & Activities

Grades Pre K-4

9 Picture Books About Voting and Elections

Explore this list of children’s books to help you jump-start a conversation with your kids about voting, democracy, citizenship, and equality.

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Grades K-2

Election Day | Together We Can

Use this Election Day-focused lesson to help young learners understand why voting matters and how it reflects the ideas and values most important to them. Invite kids to use the printable activity page “I Voted!” to list three things that are important to them and vote on each.

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Grades 3-8

The Three Branches of Government | Interactive Lesson

In this interactive lesson supporting literacy skills in U.S. history, students learn about the three branches of the United States government. Students explore the powers that the Constitution assigns to each branch—legislative, executive, and judicial—and how the three branches work together. During this process, they read informational text, learn and practice vocabulary words, and explore content through videos and engagement activities.

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Grades 6-12

The History of Voting Rights | Interactive Timeline

Analyze the evolution of voting rights in the United States, starting with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and ending with the current competing efforts to suppress voting rights and improve voting access in this interactive timeline. Students learn about key events that have either expanded or suppressed voting rights as well as the roles that both government institutions and ordinary citizens have played in effecting these changes.

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For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Let’s Vote! Collection on PBS KIDS for Parents. Don’t miss locally curated learning tips, activities, and family-friendly events from across the region—direct to your inbox each week—by signing up for the Learn & Play newsletter.