Mini-Lesson

The Electoral College

Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will learn how the Electoral College system works.

1. Explain to students that U.S. Presidents are not chosen by a direct nationwide vote. Instead, the President is chosen by electoral vote. To demonstrate the difference, have the class vote two different ways on whether dogs or cats make better pets.

First, take the popular vote. Have students raise a hand to vote for cats or dogs. Whichever pet gets more votes is the winner.

Then, demonstrate how electoral voting works. Divide the class into groups. The groups should vary in size with an odd number of students in each group to avoid a tie. For example, if there are 20 kids in the class, you might create groups of seven, three, five and five. Explain that groups with more kids will get more electoral votes. A three-person group will get one electoral vote; a five-person group gets three electoral votes and a seven-person group gets five votes. Have students vote anonymously within their groups by writing "dogs" or "cats" on a piece of paper. Then, have a volunteer from each group report back on which animal received more votes. That animal gets the group's electoral votes. Tally the number of electoral votes for each type of pet. The one with the most electoral votes wins

Then, ask: Which way of voting did you prefer? Why?

2. Tell students that just as groups with more people received more electoral votes, states with larger populations get more electoral votes. Explain that electoral votes are actually cast by a group of people called the Electoral College. Use the worksheet What Is the Electoral College? to teach students more about the process. To show students how many electoral votes each state has, use the worksheet Count the Votes.

3. Explain that some Americans think the Electoral College system should be changed. Have students read the article The Votes that Count to learn about two perspectives on the issue. Then, challenge students to take a stand and explain their point of view in writing.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

Teach students about the election of 1888, in which the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the electoral vote. Use the worksheet A Historic Election.

Have students survey their friends and family on whether the Electoral College system is fair or not. Then, encourage them to graph the results.

RESOURCES:

Archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college Frequently asked questions, teaching resources and more.

Use this interactive map to find out which states' electoral votes are expected to go to each candidate, and which states are still undecided.