Friday 8 April 2011

Kids and the Upcoming Election

Hello there Cubicle Buddies!

I feel like we haven't caught up in a while. 

So I was trying to think what we could discuss today.

Here's what I came up with.  How early do you teach your children about politics?

With the upcoming Federal election I was beginning to think that maybe my oldest, who is 6, should be aware of what is going on.  But how much do I teach her?

We've always taken the kids with us when we vote so that they have an idea of that process.  But really they have no idea what we are doing.  It probably looks like an adult game of Hide-and-seek to them...which isn't very hard...we always hide behind the big piece of cardboard!  Or Peekaboo with props? 

So I've been searching the internet to see what's offered.  Maybe that would give me an idea of what ages people are teaching their kids this stuff.  And let's be honest...I could use a little 'knowledge' on everything myself....

So far I've found out some neat stuff:

There's a place you can contact to get everything sent to you to have your own 'mock vote'.  They send ballot boxes, voting screens, electoral district maps, ballots, campaign posters, etc.  These are intended for schools, but I’ve heard they don’t have a problem sending to homeschools either!  How cool is that!

There are colouring pages of Prime Ministers of Canada that have snippets of information on the bottom.

Elections Canada has some teaching resources for children as young as kindergarten.  At a quick glance it looks like maybe a story that helps explain the Canadian electoral system.

That’s what I’ve found so far from other homeschoolers and a quick search myself.  Looks like starting now to teach my kids is a good idea.

Now I just have to figure out how we will tackle this.  Make a lap book?  Do a Unit Study?  So many possibilities really. 

Now the real question…do I teach them just the process?  Or do we get into the meat of things which include the dirty tricks and smear campaigns?  Oh the decisions!

I guess I’ll let you know how it all goes!

1 comment:

  1. Can you post where you found the mock vote materials? I'd love to link Wynne's school into that!

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