Voting is a crucial component in any Project Based Learning classroom. As a foundational skill, it is an element of PBL that often does not get enough direct instruction.
According to the New York Times, fewer than half of Americans between the ages of 18-29 voted in the 2016 presidential election. The article went on to state that one of the factors that contributes to the lack of youth voting is that voting is a habit formed over time. But what if we as PBL facilitators, took it upon ourselves to form that habit before students were of voting age?
Below are a few tips that I have cultivated over the years, to help you create a meaningful voting experience for your elementary students, which will hopefully lead to a habit of voting.
Establish the “Why?” for Voting
Empower students with an understanding that voting represents their voice. That as one of many, we each have unique perspectives and thoughts. But all and each of us matters. The idea of a majority rules voting system, allows students to understand that their voice matters and so do the voices of their fellow community members/classmates.
How can we empower students with voting?
- Acknowledge the Losing Side
Point out that you, as the facilitator, see the students who did not “win”. Let them know how you will move forward with them in mind. When will their next opportunity to be heard be? Reinforce to them that they matter, even if they are not “winning.”
2. Follow-Through With Results
When calling for a vote, be sure that the students receive the follow-through from the vote. Otherwise, the task of voting becomes meaningless and the power promised to the students a falsehood.
3. Give Options You Can Live With
Following through with results becomes a lot easier when the system is “rigged”, so to speak. While we encourage student input, and often their voice creates the options we are voting for, as facilitators we have final veto power before the vote.
Relate Classroom Voting to Real-World Voting
Think about how you can incorporate real-world practices into classroom voting.
1.Consider creating and utilizing ballots
2.Discuss informed voting
Many may disagree with my practices, but I would not allow a student to participate in voting if they did not at least experience the options. Whether that was watching a quick book trailer for 3 different whole-class books or taking a small bite of food before voting for vegetable seeds, students in my class knew it was an expectation to be an informed voter before participating in the voting process.
3.Utilize small classroom groups to model the electoral college
Example: table groups with 3 students get 1 vote, groups with 4 get 2, and 5 students would receive 3.
4.Think about how to incorporate ranked-choice voting
This is a great model for allowing students to feel empowered, even if their main choice does not win. It also encourages well-informed voting.
Cover the Social Emotional Learning lessons Embedded in Voting
Teaching students how to emotionally cope with the outcomes of voting is one of the best things we can do for our PBL classroom. A properly built Project Based Learning classroom culture empowers students. With empowerment comes passion. And with passion comes strong emotions, including anger and disappointment.
Student emotional needs are not a reflection on your abilities as an educator, but rather our inclinations as human beings. Passion is a beautiful thing in a PBL classroom, but students must learn how to properly cope with these strong feelings.
Consider establishing these norms with voting in your classroom.
- We vote often. We lose and win often.
- Try to find the good in any option.
- It is okay to be disappointed. It is okay to be angry. It is not okay to be unkind or rude to classmates.
- Be gracious in winning and in losing.
- Be considerate of the voices of those on the losing side. As the winning side, how can we still incorporate their wishes?
- Be considerate of the voices of those on the winning side. As the losing side, how can we support the vision of those who won?
Voting is a powerful tool in a well structured PBL classroom culture. It allows the facilitator to give over the reins and empowers the students to form opinions and make their voice heard.
Want to learn more about voting in an elementary PBL classroom? Check out my Facebook Live posted on my YouTube Channel here.
View more about Voting in Project Based Learning in this video.
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