Videos to Explain the Election Process
Now more than ever, it's important to explain to your students how the election process works. No matter how many times we explain the textbook definition of the electoral college, it can still be a little confusing for students (and adults). Using videos to explain the election process help your students understand how government works!
Election Process Videos
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is not just for Math tutorials. The website has so many American Civics videos that explain election concepts from everything from the electoral college to primaries and caucuses. The explainer strategy with Khan videos helps your students to feel like they are in the classroom. As Sal explains the process of the electoral college and how we select our president, he writes on the screen and uses images (like a U.S. map) to help students visualize the process. One of my favorite election videos on Khan is when Sal explains the electoral college to Grover from Sesame Street. Even middle schoolers will love seeing Grover monster learning about the election process.PBS Learning Media
PBS shares lessons and videos to explain the election process with students of all ages. Even though your students may not be ready to vote yet, there time will come soon! It's important to engage them in discussion and help them understand voting as a right and responsibility.
You can assign and share election lessons and videos from PBS Learning Media's Election Collection directly to Google Classroom.
Share some of the following engaging videos to explain the election process with your students from PBS Learning Media:
If you have multiple classes in the building that participate, consider setting up your own "electoral college" and have representatives cast their votes for each grade level or class.
Election Foundations
Why do we have elections? What's a constitutional democracy? How does the Constitution fit in? These questions are answered in this short video available in Spanish and English.The Two Party System
Democrats and Republicans: what does it all mean? This video asks whether or not America should have more than two political parties. Share this with your upper elementary and middle school learners to start an interesting debate!Voting Rights
This election cycle has brought up a lot of conversations about voting rights. Explore the last five decades of voting rights with this video, which includes handouts to support your learners.CNN10
Part of understanding the election process is being cognizant of current events. Start each day with a 10 minute news brief from CNN10. The target audience is 5-8th graders, and host Carl Azuz is a fan favorite as he keeps students' attention with his newsworthy puns and easy to understand stories.Extension Activities to Explain the Election Process
Mock Elections
After you teach your students all about the election process, have them cast their own ballots! Set up "election booths" with folders where students can fill out physical forms, or use some devices to have students cast their own anonymous digital ballots via Google Forms. That makes it easy for you to tally the votes and elect a presidential candidate for the class.
If you have multiple classes in the building that participate, consider setting up your own "electoral college" and have representatives cast their votes for each grade level or class.
Digital Escape Rooms
Videos are great tools, but your students need hands-on learning to really understand concepts. Use extension activities from any of the websites above or try something a little bit different with a digital escape room!What is a Digital Escape Room?
Digital escape rooms require students to solve puzzles and find codes in order to learn facts about a topic, and ultimately solve a big puzzle!The Electoral College Digital Escape Room
The Electoral College Digital Escape Room will takes students through two 360° VIEW rooms on a mission where they learn all about the election process. This escape room focuses on decoding and reading comprehension skills as students learn facts about the following election process topics:- The Electoral College
- Article II
- The debate of the Electoral College and the number of electors
- 1. Cryptogram
- 2. Maze
- 3. Cipher
- 4. Jigsaw
