Students need to be able understand and interpret the latest events, especially in an increasingly divided election climate. Six ways your students can understand the recent divaric elections, starting with themselves, are covered in this article.
Co-create class norms
Your students can help you create classroom norms. This will allow them to customize their learning experiences and empower students. It fosters student agency and helps to create a sense of community. This activity encourages student participation by letting students take control of the classroom. Start your discussion on the election by making your own class agreement or, if your group already has a contract in place, encourage your students to either amend or add to it to facilitate this discussion.
Media strategies that promote accurate information sharing and communication
You can facilitate thoughtful discussions about the election with students by providing accurate information and dispelling misconceptions. A lot of misinformation circulated before the election, and President Trump has made numerous unsubstantiated claims about the election process. It is important to ensure that you share impartial sources of information regarding violence and unrest throughout the country. Assist students in learning about local elections and ballot initiatives, as well drawing from the local media.
Allow space to express emotions
Students are probably feeling mixed emotions after major news media reported that Biden had won the Presidential election. Students may require help finding credible information and putting the election into historical context. They might also need to find productive ways they can engage in politics. Expressing emotions on paper can be a valid option, and studycrumb will teach different ways an academic paper can be written.
These strategies can be beneficial in helping students to reflect on their emotions in response to the results of the election.
- Journaling. The Journaling teaching method will help students sort through their feelings, thoughts, and doubts. Encourage your students to write about their emotions and thoughts about the results of the election in a journal with an open-ended challenge like: What are you feeling about this election and what’s happening now?
- Coloring, Image, or Symbol. This activity invites students to think about concepts in non-verbal ways and also encourages students to think in metaphors. Students are asked to select the color, symbol and an image that represents the choice to them. They could then make an illustration that incorporates the three components.
- Graffiti Boards. This strategy gives students a place to process their responses to a particular topic and then read their peers’ responses. Set up an area (such as a board on whiteboard in the event that you’re teaching in person, or an electronic document shared with students if you teach online) Students are asked to share any thoughts or questions they feel about the topic in the area. Then, you can read through their responses and discuss any issues or topics that were discussed.
Share a media bias chart
Explain to students the fact that results of the elections do not necessarily mean victory. The election results are often skewed in one direction or another, which can lead to a false sense of trust in the political process. If you are not sure how to address these concerns in your classroom, share a media bias chart with your students. This chart can be used to guide discussion by asking students to think about the views of various news sources.
You can give your students information about every candidate. These data are useful for creating an election forecast model. Set up a place where students can leave their comments. You can then read through the responses, and put them in the appropriate space. After reading the responses, you can discuss them with some classmates. If your students disagree, consider presenting them with an alternative view. A clear plan should be developed by teachers and tracked to ensure a thorough discussion on the election.
Place the events in historical context
For example, put 1860 into historical perspective. Slavery was a major issue for the Democratic Party, and it cost them their presidential election. They compare and summarize primary and second-hand sources, draw inferences, and then make comparisons. In pairs, or in small groups, they work together to form a consensus based on historical evidence. To conclude, students will be able to explain why their position is correct or wrong.
Start with yourself
Before starting a conversation with your students regarding the elections, take a moment to think about your own beliefs, your political views and your emotional response to the results. You can or should not want to reveal details regarding your political affiliations to your students however, regardless of the reason, you must create an outline of the best way to create an open and reflective environment to your children.
