Here's what we'll be doing tonight.
I printed out four of these maps; one for each child if they want, to color the states red and blue as the results come in.
At the same time, we'll have a piece of paper with two columns, McCain and Obama, where we will tally the electoral votes as the states' results come in. (I prepared this list of each state's number of electoral votes yesterday in preparation for tonight - it really helps to know the states song!)
And then, in case you aren't sure how it works, the first candidate to get 270 electoral votes wins! (I didn't know that until I was 25, which is the first time I voted. Better late than never. I'm sure I learned it in high school civics class and had forgotten. Speaking of high school civics class, that was during the 1992 election and a local news crew came to our classroom to interview us about it. A clip of me ended up on the local news, arguing with a boy who had said that Perot was "above the mudslinging" and had run a cleaner campaign than the others... I shot back something like, "Oh yeah? What about that such-and-such commercial? Perot is slinging mud just as much as everyone else!" And that was my 15 mintues of fame in 1992.)
Last November for our FHE immediately preceeding election day, we created ballots for each of the kids where they could vote for their favorite things: color, shape, treat, animal, etc. They loved it! We didn't do that last night, but I wanted to mention it in case any of you would like to do that with your kids. It was a really fun activity and got them to understand a little bit about voting.
And, oh yeah, in case you haven't voted yet, today's the day!
7 comments:
That's an awesome idea...I love that you get your kids involved in stuff like this.
That is such a cute idea. We will have to do with with our children when they are older!!
What a good idea! I will have to steal it when my kids get older...
Here's the extent of what I told Brandon..."in case anyone mentions it, today is the day that everyone is voting for a new US President." So don't feel bad - they too will be 25 before they understand the electoral process. My poor children with their non-political mother!
So I guess that this comment should go with the last post, but I just read this one. I did vote differently than you -- on three of them. I voted No on 101, No on 105, and Yes on 202. So we'll see who wins!!
Love your idea. Not too sure I'll get it together in time.
Jake came back from his kindergarten election very proud that he had voted for Obama! He felt bad, because he thought that's who I was voting for too and tried to change his vote. (Apparently he didn't pick up on the negative aspects when he's heard the name tossed around, or he's just watching all the ads on TV.)
Gabe voted today in 1st grade and was sad that McCain lost. I told him it's still important to vote for the right one. :)
Who is this mean Martha hoopla? Let me at her. (See my fists up?)
Sara, I didn't know (or don't remember) that you were on the news in high school! Who was the teacher? We must not have been in the same class.
I like your ideas of what you are doing with your kids! My kids have been getting interested in the election, too. Lizzie was disappointed that Obama won in her class!
You're such a good mom. I would have never thought to even talk about this with my kids. Next time we'll do this.
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