Mock Elections and Plain English Learning
Oct 30th, 2008 by Cathy Jo Nelson
Electing a US President in Plain English
I used this today on our school news program (The Tiger Chat.) Our students were participating in mock elections today, and so I thought school wide perhaps this would help kids grasp the concept of the electoral college. I was surprised and flabbergasted at several things today:
1) Our kids did not understand why our state is divided into the congressional districts, and they also wanted to know who decided the lines that make up those districts.
2) Kids and adults alike expressed pleasure at finally getting the concept of the electoral college explained in a simple manner.
3) Adults in my building admitted their formally vague understanding is now crystal clear.
What I love about these videos is their simplicity. I am anxious to hear the results of our students’ participation in the mock election. I am more pleased than ever that the social studies teachers want this video. I may just have to purchase it for a school owned copy. It is that good. Oh well, it is free on the Internet. Should i worry?
I plan to challenge m social studies teachers to get the kids to make videos similar in this style for other parts of their curriculum they struggle with. Wonder if immigrants who must take tests for citizenship know about these?
I love these videos and use them often in training sessions. Make sure to see the ones on Blogging, Wikis, and other tech ones. I did share the one on the Electoral College with our Social Studies teachers and they loved it. They told me students now understand the Electoral College after watching it.