Teaching students about elections can be challenging—especially when terms like “Electoral College” or “civil discourse” might seem boring to young learners. But the great news? You can transform these important topics into something fun and engaging!
With the right videos, you can capture students’ attention and make complex election concepts easy to grasp. If you’re looking to bring energy and clarity to your lessons, I’ve got you covered!
Below are five engaging, kid-friendly videos that will help you teach about the Presidential Election.
Free Presidential Roles and Powers Mini Lesson
Need a ready-to-use activity for your U.S. elections unit? This illustrated notes lesson walks students through the 8 key roles and powers of the president, plus the requirements to run for office. Students follow along with a free slideshow and fill in the notes as they go. Zero prep.
Enter your email, and you’ll get instant access. I’ll also send you my favorite free resources for teaching U.S. elections.
1. How to Become President of the United States | USA Gov
This animated video, created by the U.S. government, outlines the three key requirements for presidential candidates and provides a simple explanation of the election process.
Length: 2 minutes
Lesson Connection: This pairs well with Lesson 2 of my Presidential Election unit, which covers the steps of the election process.
2. Five Ways to Respectfully Disagree | Lovely Advice and Motivation
This illustrated video offers practical strategies for engaging in respectful disagreements, with clear examples of what to do and avoid in civil discourse.
Length: 3 minutes
Lesson Connection: Use this video with Lesson 1 of my Presidential Election unit on citizenship and civil discourse. It’s also a great reminder for adults navigating election discussions with neighbors, coworkers, and family!
3. What is Misinformation? Let’s Break it Down | CBC Kids News
This animated video from CBC Kids News, narrated by Aubrie Chan, explains the concepts of misinformation and disinformation in a clear, student-friendly way.
Length: 2.5 minutes
Lesson Ideas:
- Before showing the video, ask students, “Can you believe everything you see online? Why or why not?”
- Watch the video and discuss the differences between misinformation and disinformation with examples.
- Follow up with an activity where students brainstorm ways to avoid spreading inaccurate information online.
This video ties in perfectly with Lesson 3 of my Presidential Election unit, where students analyze the media’s role in elections through a mock election.
4. Does Your Vote Count? The Electoral College Explained | Christina Greer
This kid-friendly video explains the Electoral College, how it works, and its pros and cons, making a complicated topic much easier to understand.
Length: 5.5 minutes
Lesson Ideas:
- Start with a discussion: What do students already know about the Electoral College?
- Watch the video, then explore the concepts of safe and swing states and whether or not students think the Electoral College is a fair system.
For a comprehensive lesson on the Electoral College, see Lesson 5 of my Presidential Election unit.
5. US Election: What is the Electoral College and How Does It Work? | Euronews
For another perspective on the Electoral College, this Euronews video offers a concise explanation, making it a great follow-up or summary to the previous video. However, since this video is simplified for kids, there are two facts it doesn’t get exactly right:
- The video says that states use a winner-take-all system (but doesn’t mention the two exceptions: Nebraska and Maine)
- The video says that the number of electors is based on population, which is partially correct. The number of electors is based on representation in Congress, which is partially equal (the Senate) and partially based on population (the House of Representatives).
You can decide if this video is a good fit for the age of your students.
Length: 3.5 minutes
Lesson Ideas:
- After reviewing the first Electoral College video, use this one as a recap.
- Exit ticket questions:
- What is a safe state? What is a swing state? Give one example of each.
- What would it take to change the Electoral College system?
Need more help teaching about the Election?
I hope these videos help make teaching about the election more engaging and accessible for your students. It’s always great to see students get excited about the democratic process!
If these videos made a difference in your classroom and you want to save time planning, check out my no-prep Election Unit!
Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions about the Election Unit:
Q: Which grades is this unit designed for?
A: This unit is designed for 5th-8th grade students.
Q: Is this unit unbiased?
A: Yes! I have tried my best to focus on the process of electing a president over politics.
In this unit, students learn the information by participating in a mock election with fictional candidates for class president.
Q: How long is each lesson?
A: All the lessons are 60 minutes long. This unit is packed with activities and could easily be taught over two weeks instead of one.
Q: Which lessons are included?
A: The following five lessons are included:
Lesson 1: Citizenship & Civil Discourse
Objectives: I can define citizenship and explain the importance of voting. I can have a civil discussion with others, even if we disagree.
Activities:
- Jigsaw & Task Cards
- Skit
- Chat Stations
Sneak Peek:
Lesson 2: Presidential Election Process
Objectives: I can explain what U.S. presidents do, what political parties are, and how the presidential election process works. I can use my knowledge of the presidential election process to participate in a mock election for a fictional class president.
Activities:
- Presidential Election Slideshow + Notes
- Mock Election begins
- Students are assigned to a political party: The Memory Maker Party or the Snack Squad Party.
- Students “register to vote”
- Students learn about their four fictional candidates: Isaiah, Emma, Nia, and Aiden.
Sneak Peek:
Lesson 3: Media, Bias, & Primaries
Objectives: I can analyze the role the media plays in an election, define and identify bias, and participate in a primary election.
Activities:
- Video + Notes on Misinformation
- What is Bias?
- Students read an article about bias and identify their own biases on non-controversial issues.
- Analyzing Media Gallery Walk
- Students analyze social media posts, newspaper articles, and YouTube thumbnails about the fictional candidates. They identify if the information is accurate, if the source is trustworthy, and what the source’s bias is.
- Mock Primary Election
- Students read about primaries, caucuses, and national conventions
- Students use a mail-in ballot to vote for a candidate from their assigned party.
Sneak Peek:
Lesson 4: Presidential Debates
Objectives: I can thoughtfully analyze a mock presidential debate, explain why I am voting for a candidate using evidence, and create a persuasive campaign poster about my favorite candidate.
Activities:
- Mock Presidential Debate Reader’s Theatres
- Debate Discussion
- Students participate in a civil discussion about the debate.
- Persuasive Campaign Posters
- Students decide who they are voting for in the primary election. After analyzing historical campaign posters, they create a poster for their favorite candidate.
Sneak Peek:
Lesson 5:
Objectives: I can explain how a general election works, including the impact of the popular vote and the electoral college. I can participate in an Electoral College simulation.
Activities:
- Read about General Elections & the Electoral College
- Historic Election Gallery Walk
- Students analyze the results of the last eight elections to determine who won the popular vote versus the Electoral College.
- Electoral College Simulation
- Students experience a mock Electoral College and compare the results to the popular vote.
- What Happens After the Election? article
Sneak Peek:
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