election crafts

1-2-3 Come Do Some Election-Themed Activities With Me  

When it comes to the election, it's often difficult to find simple and appropriate activities for little learners, which are quick, easy and fun, as well as educational. 

Because of that, I designed some interesting craftivities I think you and your kiddos will enjoy.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsFirst up is the elephant-donkey dangler. Younger kiddos can simply make the “dangler” with several “topper” options to choose from. As you can see by the photograph, there are a variety of ways to put them together.

I knew this was a “winner” when my 4-year-old grandson saw my samples and exclaimed, “Cool. Can I make one?”

He just turned 4 but is very adept with scissors, so I guess if he enjoyed it, perhaps your preschoolers could also make a dangler.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsHowever, I designed this for kindergarten & 1st grade as an art activity, and as a writing prompt for older students 2nd-5th.

Older kiddos can opt for the square “topper” with the star on it, then choose one of the following writing prompts to jot down on the back of it:

* If I could vote I’d be voting for
____________ because . . .
* It’s important to vote because …
* I can’t wait ’til I can vote because …


If you want to mix some non-fiction reading and research into this activity, have students find out the interesting history of the donkey & elephant that are used as symbols to represent the Democratic & Republican parties.
They can write their findings on the back of the topper.

Another option is to have students write the pros and cons of each nominee on the back of their respective animal.

It’s hard to believe in today’s world that not everyone was allowed to vote in the past, so another interesting writing prompt would be for students to find out when and how Afro Americans and women won the right to vote. 

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsNext up is a writing prompt craftivity that can be used during an election year, or for Presidents Day as well, as the prompt is: "If I Were President..."  

Whenever I add a bit of craftiness to our writing block, my students can't wait to get down to business; so I'm often creating simple "headers" to add some extra pizzazz to generate excitement.

Give your students a choice between the 2 White House "topper" options, which they color, trim and glue to the top of their border paper (To add variety to your display, there are 3 choices.)

I've included black & white patterns as well as color templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Finally, I wanted to reinforce the alphabet and our study of the letter Vv, as well as build some vocabulary in a fun way, so I designed the "Vv Is For VOTE!" craftivity. 

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsYounger kiddos can simply make the donkey-elephant “Vv is for vote!” craft. Scatter them on a bulletin board or punch holes in the heads and dangle from the ceiling or as a hallway wall border, then follow things up with the matching worksheet.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsThe star paper that I used for the letter V is also included.

Since Vv is also for vocabulary too, older students can write as many words as they can think of that start with the letter Vv, then write them on the back of the letter, or jot them down on one of 2 bookmark-size strips, which can be glued to the bottom of the letter.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsI’ve included a completed sample for you to share, as well as a list of 61 nouns that begin with the letter Vv, which children should be familiar with.

Another option is to color the boy or girl page and mount that to the bottom of the letter, after completing the writing prompt: “It’s important to vote because …”

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsThere are also 5 other prompt ideas your students can choose.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsThe writing prompt worksheets come in black and white, as well as full color, so that you can easily make a sample to share.

I’ve also included 3 “badge buttons” students color, cut, trim & wear. 

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsToday's featured FREEBIE is a set of "It's Time To Vote!" games.  Study analog and digital time with these election-themed games.

Packet includes:

  • * Several games
  • * Clock spinners
  • * Analog clock
  • * Traceable digital time cards to the hour and half hour and a ...
  • * Blank analog clock cards to be filled in as an assessment or skill practice.

election activities for early elementary, election activities, election bulletin boards, election crafts, election writing prompts for kidsWell that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in.  The color here in Michigan has reached its peak, so time for a nice break to go rustle through some of those vibrant colors.  Wishing you an inspiring, nature-filled day.

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time, like dew on the tip of a leaf." - Rabindranath Tagore

1-2-3 Come Do Some Election Activities With Me

When it comes to election activities, it's often hard to find something quick, easy & fun that's age-appropriate for early elementary.  I basically wanted something simple to help my students become familiar with the 2016 Presidential candidates.

With that in mind, I designed 3 election-themed craftivities that I think your students will really enjoy. They are featured in this blog article, along with today's special FREEBIE.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryFirst up is a Presidential Candidate Slider, which is easy enough for preschoolers, and still appropriate for kindergarten and 1st grade as well.

Simply pick one of two star options, or give your students a choice.

They color and trim, then insert their "slider" which features the 4 presidential candidates for the 2016 election.

I've included black and white patterns for students to color, as well as colorful templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryWhen everyone is done, review the names of the candidates by pulling the portraits of the 4 nominees through the star "window".

You could also go over the party that they are affiliated with, as well as their Vice Presidential running mates.

Afterwards, check comprehension by calling out a name, party or running mate; students slide the matching picture to the window, then hold up their star.

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.  Next up is a versatile writing prompt craft I call the "Democracy Dangler". 

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryThere are many options for putting this  craft together. 
Children can simply choose the candidate that they are going to vote for in your school’s mock election, or the candidate that they would vote for if they were 18.

They can pick the full-page large oval or the smaller, 2-on-a-page version.

Writing Prompt Options: On the back older students write the reasons why they support that candidate, reasons why they are going to vote for that nominee or the things that they like about that person.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryStudents could also pick 2 candidates, glue these ovals back-to-back then complete a comparison-contrast writing prompt which they’d write on the back of the “Election 2016” square. OR …

Children feature all 4 candidates in the order that they like them, the top one being the one that they will be voting for, then write factual information on the back of each oval, or things they like and dislike about each candidate.

Ovals can be glued on a length of yarn or patriotic ribbon, with a loop at the top for hanging,

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryI’ve also included real photograph-ovals of each candidate which you can use:
* to introduce your lesson,
* help explain things,
* test for comprehension of who that nominee is, and/or
* use for a display.

Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling, as a border along a hallway wall.  I’ve included a “Hanging Out With The Candidates” poster you can use for your display as well.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryFinally, the "Flip For Facts" writing prompt craft, is a nice introduction to doing research, and practicing technology skills, and is wonderfully simple!

Students can practice their research skills and find X number of facts (I ask for 3), about each candidate via books, magazines, newspapers or on the Internet.

Older kiddos can cite their sources on the back.

I’ve also included some general biographical and campaign information on all 4 candidates that you can share with your students as well.
These can be read as non-fiction passages for older students.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryRun off the pattern, which children fold over, color and snip to create “flaps” for “flipping”.
Underneath they write their “bulleted” facts.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryGive students a star sticker to place on their favorite candidate.
When everyone is done, have students share their “flipper flapper” with the class, telling one interesting fact that they found.

Besides the BW template for students to color, I’ve also included a pattern in color, as well as a completed set of facts, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board too.
I’ve included 2 patriotic posters for the center of your display. 

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryToday's featured FREEBIE is a 40-page, election-themed number packet, which practices a variety of math standards suitable for PK-1st.

election crafts, election activities, election centers, election activities for early elementaryWell that's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

My granddaughter is celebrating her 2nd birthday this week, so it's time to do some shopping. 

Wishing you a carefree and happy-go-lucky kind of day. 

"Age is strickly mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it don't matter." -Jack Benny