Mock Election Time

"[We are] learning about the election, how they work, and getting something out of it because our platform issues contain policies that could affect our grade and how we conduct our class each week,” said Shelby.

As the United States Presidential election continues to heat up and caucuses begin to add up across the country, Chambers Academy’s ninth-grade civics class is beginning their “Mock Election”. The five-day simulation lesson enables students to explain the steps taken from party formation to national election. Students divided themselves into the “Purple Party” and the “Orange Party”. Five classroom policy options were selected to use as each party’s platform. Students designed primary posters to support their party and elected candidates who will compete in a debate during the process before final election ballots are cast.

“I think this is a good idea, because you’re learning about the election, how it works, and getting something out of it because our platform issues contain policies that could affect our grade and how we conduct our class each week,” said Shelby.

Teaching students the impact of an election at the classroom level in an open response activity helps engage them in a simulated democratic process where they can relate their activities to current events in American politics.