Video: Hands On Lesson Teaches Middle School Students Importance Of Being An Informed Voter

GUNTOWN, MISS. (WCBI) – On this election day, American History Teacher Sharon Martin wanted her students to see how easy it is to register to vote.

And although the seventh graders are too young to vote now, Martin is also teaching students the importance of being an informed voter.

Each student is given two paper paddles. The red one features Republican Donald Trump, the blue, Democrat Hillary Clinton. A statement is read, representing a candidates’ stance on a particular issue . Students respond by raising, either the Trump, or Clinton paddle, or in rare cases, both.

Martin has taught American History for more than several presidential election cycles. She is hopeful students will remember the hands on lesson.

“Hopefully the activity will show them how informed, or uninformed they were about their candidates, that if they had been able to vote today, would they have made an educated decision?” Martin said.

Overall, the class did well on the presidential candidates quiz. They also took part in a mock election. Students say this lesson taught them a lot about their civic duty.

“It’s important so we can know about them before we vote for them, and know how to register to vote when we get older,” said Abby Hannon.

“We need to know who we are voting for, what they believe in and what they think is right and wrong and stuff and I’m thankful for our history teacher for teaching us what we need to know so we are 100 percent know who we would like to vote for,” said Zack McVivitt.

Students are given some homework for this exercise, they are asked to take home an election night tracker, and with parents permission, stay up a little later, and watch as returns come in. They will also fill in each state as electoral college results are known. Then on Wednesday, students will come back and learn how their class voted.

By the way, the first presidential election those seventh graders will be able to vote, takes place in 2024.