Vote for Me

Last day of this politics and voting stuff.....the kids like it, but the adults are a little burned out on the topic!! I think we accomplished our goal for the week.  The kids all seem to know who our President is and at least two facts about the country/state that they live in.  If we've made them more globally aware this week, it's been worth hearing OOOOOOBAMAAAA four hundred and seventeen times!

Touch and Feel was all about money today.  I mean, you can't really talk about the United States (and an election!) without money!  We talked about dollar bills vs coins, quarters vs pennies, and the fact that bigger doesn't always mean more money!!  The kids decided that we should leave school and go out for ice cream.....and they almost convinced us!!

Today was picture day, so we had to do a longer morning circle today with NO break for the playground.  We broke up all the sitting and listening with some music and dancing, which they seemed to really enjoy.  Anything that gives them permission to be loud and move in crazy ways, if only for a few minutes, completely cracks them up. 

Vote for Me by Kirsten Hall was our story of the day.  This is a story about a class deciding on class president.  Everyone thinks that they would be good at the job except Smudge.  Smudge can't think of one good reason why he would be a good president.  He gets very sad and decides not to run.  All his friends remind him of all the things that would make him good for the job.  He gives good hugs, he can reach things on high shelves, and he makes them all laugh and smile.  Smudge decides to run and ultimatley wins the election. 

After the story, we talked about voting ballots and what they looked like.  Each child received a ballot of their own to vote on a new game that we would learn to play.  The choices were Duck, Duck, Goose, or Red Light, Green Light, or Ring Around The Rosie.  We explained how important it was to only choose one.....or your vote might not count at all.  We talked about how you had to follow directions carefully and mark your ballot just like it said.....or your vote might not count at all.  SERIOUS BUSINESS!!  They were so focused and attentive.  Everyone took turns in our special voting spots in the room and marked their ballot.  Some of them even took some extra time to think about it and decide what game was the best!  It was the cutest thing ever!!

 

 

 

When the votes were counted one by one, Red Light, Green Light won by a landslide.  Some kids, just like in a real election, were upset that their game didn't win.  We talked about how it didn't mean we could never play those other games, but for today our game would be what the class vote decided.  Even a monarchy like school can have a little piece of democracy every now and then!!

After that we tucked in shirts, fixed hair, and headed outside for our pictures.  The kids all learned a new word....photographer.....that they REALLY enjoyed calling our picture man.  We all waited patiently and sang songs with the iPad while pictures were being taken.  I think you will all be pleased with the cute shots in the sunshine with yellow leaves all around.

After lunch, we went out to learn our new game.  I think it needs some practice because that whole "Red Light" thing still doesn't work.  They all keep running as hard as they can.  We didn't make too much of a big deal about it because by this point in the day.....with no playground time.....they all needed some running energy release!!  Days like today remind us why we head outside even if it's freezing cold and raining.....if we skip it for the adult's sake.....we definitely pay the price later!!