An Introduction to Voting for Kids
Directions
The twenty example texts have been sub-divided thematically into five sections for more focused review. Your group is looking at materials which would likely be used to introduce the topic of the text set, women's voting rights, but focuses more broadly on voting to provide students background knowledge.
Potentially Relevant Standards from the C3 (College, Career, & Civic Life) Framework for Social Studies State Standards include:
- D2.Civ.2.3-5. Explain how a democracy relies on people’s responsible participation, and draw implications for how individuals should participate.
- D2.Civ.12.3-5. Explain how rules and laws change society and how people change rules and laws.
Within your group, decide who examines which of the four texts. (Note: If you have more than four group members, put multiple people on whichever text(s) seems the most complicated. If you have fewer than four group members, choose which text(s) not to review).
After reviewing your text(s) reflect on the following questions and take notes on your thoughts:
- How is your text related to Women's Voting Rights, and more specifically an introduction to voting?
- How does the text address issues of diversity, equity, & social issues?
- What would students already have to know or understand to engage with your text? What would students be able to learn from your text?
- How do you imagine using such a text instructionally when designing a unit on Women's Voting Rights?
Reconvene with your group members and report back on your text, sharing answers to the above questions. This verbally models the annotations you will do when constructing your own text set when completing the Integrated Multicultural Unit Reflection assignment.
- How could your texts work together or complement each other instructionally?
Be prepared to share out your group's thoughts with the larger class after reviewing this section of the larger example text set.
Text 1 - Song
[PBS KIDS]. (2017, October 10). YOU, ME & COMMUNITY | Let's Take a Vote | PBS KIDS [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fqlcxhQ8T8
Text 2 - Read-Aloud
Beaty, A. (2021). Meet-the-Author Recording with Andrea Beaty | Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote [Audio recording]. TeachingBooks. https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?a=1&id=23956
Text 3 - Fiction Chapter Book
Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty (TMC Fiction BEA)
Book summary: Miss Lila Greer announces it's time for Grade Two to get a class pet, and she wants the kids to participate in choosing which one. After all, they will all have to share the responsibility of caring for it. The class narrows it down to two options: Team Turtle and Team Bird. Sofia is named election commissioner, in charge of overseeing a fair and honest election between the two teams. There's a class-wide campaign, complete with posters, articles, and speeches. Then it's time for the election! But when the votes are counted, there's a tie, and one vote is missing. How will the class break the tie? And what happened to the vanishing vote? It's up to Sofia Valdez and the Questioneers to restore democracy!
Beaty, A. & Roberts, D. (2020). Sofia Valdez and the vanishing vote. Amulet Books.
Text 4 - Fiction Picture Book
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio (TMC EASY DIP)
Book summary: "Where are the girls?" When Grace's teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides she wants to be the nation's first and immediately jumpstarts her political career by running in her school's mock election! The race is tougher than she expected: her popular opponent declares that he's the "best man for the job" and seems to have captured the votes of all of the class's boys. But Grace is more determined than ever. Even if she can't be the best man for the job, she can certainly try to be the best person! This timely story not only gives readers a fun introduction to the American electoral system but also teaches the value of hard work, courage, independent thought -- and offers an inspiring example of how to choose our leaders. (Read-Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I66IvCBm1Vw)
DiPucchio, K. & Pham, L. (2008). Grace for president. Hyperion Books for Children.