This Getting the Job Worksheet asks 3rd graders to sort government jobs into elected and appointed, then read short sentences to tell how each leader got the job. An answer key is included.
Every vote counts, even in class
Election Day is a perfect time to teach kids how people choose their leaders. They learn that in the United States, citizens 18 and older can vote, and that national elections happen on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Younger kids learn that voting is a fair way for a group to decide, and that every vote is counted. Older kids learn about the jobs of different leaders, campaigns, ballots and why voting is private. The click moment comes when kids hold their own class vote and see the result.
We keep Election Day lessons fair, hands-on and about how voting works, not who to vote for.
Let kids vote on something real but low stakes, like a class read-aloud or a recess game. Use secret ballots and a box, then count the votes together. Running an election teaches more than reading about one.
Why it works: in a well-known study, a few short sessions of a simple number board game measurably boosted young children's number skills (Ramani and Siegler, 2008).
Try it withGetting the Job WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Read about a job like mayor or class president and ask "What would make someone good at this job?" Kids list qualities like fair, honest and a good listener. Talking about the job keeps the lesson about civics, not politics.
Why it works: when kids say the precise math words, their understanding gets sharper, a recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withGetting the Job WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →After your class vote, make a bar graph of the results together. Kids talk about who won, by how much and what a tie would mean. It brings math into the lesson in a natural way.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
In the United States, federal Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Many states and towns hold elections on that day too.
Tell them voting is a fair way for a group to make a choice. Each person gets one vote, all the votes are counted, and the choice with the most votes wins. A class vote shows how it works.
Focus on how voting works, why it matters and what leaders do. Use pretend candidates or class choices instead of real campaigns, and let families talk about their own views at home.
U.S. citizens who are 18 or older and meet their state's rules can vote. Kids can learn about voting now and practice with class elections.
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