Election 2016—Elementary Resources
Instructional Resources for helping students talk about the election results and
learn about our election processes and the presidential inauguration.
General Election and Post-Election Resources
Grades K-5
Time for Kids
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/election-remember/496771
Provides an overview of the election results as well as other resources for teaching about the
election and the electoral college.
Scholastic News: Election 2016
http://election.scholastic.com/
Resources are updated regularly and now include post-election resources. Check back as the
inauguration approaches for related resources.
Post –election Reflections
http://mncivicyouth.org/post-election-reflection-activity/
Provides questions and prompts for helping students reflect on the election results and share
their feelings and hopes for the future.
Big List of Class Discussion Strategies
http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/
although not specific to the 2016 Election or inauguration, many of these fifteen strategies
lend themselves provide opportunities for all students to share their thoughts, feelings, and
ideas.
Inauguration Day Lessons
Grades K-2
Inaugural Pennant
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/01-1/lp2297.shtml
Have students identify artifacts and objects associated with a celebration. Look at and
discuss prior inaugural artifacts including buttons, brochures, and pennants. Create an
inaugural pennant for the President Elect’s inauguration.
Essential Questions: What evidence is there to show that inauguration day is a celebration?
How could inauguration day unite people?
Portrait of the President
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/01-1/lp2292.shtml
Use current photographs to create portraits of the President Elect. Use the portraits to create a
presidential banner to display on inauguration day. Talk about how the inauguration is a
celebration of democracy.
Essential Question: Why is the inaugural address a public event?
Letter to the President
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/01-1/lp2291.shtml
Listen to portions of the inaugural address. Have students write letters to the new president,
including goals they would like to see achieved in the new administration and good wishes to
the president and his family.
Essential Question: Why is the inaugural address a public event?
Interview the President
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/01-1/lp2299.shtml
Have students write questions that a reporter might ask during an interview with the new
president. Have students work with the media specialist to research answers to the questions.
Essential Question: What role do media play in how people feel about the inauguration/the
president?
Grades 3-5
Our White House
http://ourwhitehouse.org/history-civics/inaugurations/
Explore this site for a variety of activities for kids of all ages from designing a parade float to
writing an inaugural poem.
Essential Question: How does the presidential inauguration reflect American democratic
values, symbols, and traditions?
Using Media Sources: Local and National Perspectives
Bring into class the local newspaper from the day of the inauguration and a newspaper with a
national perspective. Have students compare articles on the inauguration using the same
ideas as listed above. Be sure to have the students visit the opinion-editorial pages. Have
students write a paragraph to summarize one editorial and state whether they agree with the
editorial and why.
Essential Question: What role do media play in public opinion about the inauguration?
News Coverage Scrapbook
Have students keep a scrapbook on the new President’s inauguration for a week leading up to
and/or a week following the inauguration. Students may want to keep newspaper and
magazine clippings, maintain a journal on viewing news broadcasts, or print out Web pages
they encounter. Allow students to comment on how effective and how accurate their news
sources are, or how these sources might change the delivery of news. In their journals,
students classify stories as news, features, or opinion.
Essential Question: What role do media play in public opinion about the inauguration?
Writing an Editorial After the Inauguration
After viewing and discussing the inauguration, have students write editorials on the new
presidency. Have students send their letters to the editor of the local newspaper or share their
efforts within their school community.
Essential Questions: How does the president set the agenda for his presidency in the
inauguration?
Presidential Legacy
http://mpt.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/election-central-2016/?topic_id=2346
Students discuss what they think President Obama will best be remembered for in the future.
They can view one or more of the following 60 second videos, one for every president of the
United States, to learn about the legacy of other past presidents.
Essential Question: How does a president impact the United States long past his time in
office?
Equity and Social Emotional Learning Resources
Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
http://www.morningsidecenter.org/blog/post-election-resources-teachers
Provides several lessons that focus on emotional reactions to the election, addressing
election anxiety, activities to counter bias. These activities are framed through the
lens of social emotional learning and the use of the circle process.
National Education Association (NEA)
http://neatoday.org/2016/11/09/talking-to-students-about-election/
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/64341.htm
The NEA has provided several resources to provide guidance on how to talk to
children about the election as well as general resources on the election itself.
Teaching Tolerance
http://www.tolerance.org/
Offers a wealth of resources from discussing the election to addressing bias.
Additional Resources
The MCPS Equity Initiatives Unit
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/clusteradmin/equity/
Contact the Equity Unit if you would like resources for conducting any of the
following Circles Activities:
Exploring Dimensions of Our Identity Circle
Dealing with Inside and Outside Hurts Circles
What Triggers your Anger?
Daily emotional Weather Report Circle
Safe Space Circle
Let’s Talk about Bullying Circle
Responding to Community Trauma Circle
Exploring Our Feelings about Race Circle
Exploring the Impact of Social Inequality Circle
Boyes-Watson, C., & Pranis, K. (2015). Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School
Community. St. Paul, MN: Living Justice Press.
Lee, E., Menkart, D., & Okazawa-Rey, M. (1998). Beyond Heroes and Holidays: A
Practical Guide to K-12 Anti-racist, Multicultural Education and Staff Development.
Washington, D.C.: Network of Educators on the Americas.
Shiman, D. A. (1981). The Prejudice Book: Activities for the Classroom. AntiDefamation League.