Election Study

We are really enjoying our study of the election process. As always, I'm learning so much myself! As I said earlier, we are using a unit study called HSforGOP. Today, Alexandra spent 2 hours and 40 minutes working through the study, doing research, earning points, and blogging about it! This was HER choice, not mine. :-)

She learned about the qualifications for being president. Here's her blog writing (each child can create a blog on the site):

The U.S. Constitution says that the president of the United States must be: born in the United states, at least 35 years old, and be a United States citizen and must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

I would not be able to be president because I've not lived in the U.S. for 14 years and I'm not 35. I'm only 7.

My dad could be president. He has always lived in the U.S. and he's older than 35. So is my mom.

I found this information in a book called "Smart About the Presidents."

She also learned the names of some of the parties, what GOP means, the 4 steps to becoming president, about caucuses and delegates, about Super Tuesday, and much more! I really enjoyed her post about the 4 steps to becoming president.

Step 1: Many people want to be president. Lots have different ideas of what they would do as president. The people who want to be president must be in caucuses and primaries to get the nomination for thier party.
Step 2: At the end of the caucuses and primaries, each party holds a National Convention where they will narrow it down to one person. That person then picks a vice-president from his or her party.

Step 3: Now, each party has one candidate. They go to different states to try to get votes for themselves. People don't give their vote to the person they want to win, but to the electors who will go to the Electoral College and the elector will give the votes for their state.

Step 4: In December the electors cast their votes. Whichever candidate gets more than half of the votes is the new president. January 6th, they tell the people who won. January 20th (2 weeks later), the new president and vice-president get to start their new jobs.

We are now doing early voting in Texas, so "we" will have to go vote next week so she can experience that (again). She's having so much fun learning about this - and so am I!

What are you doing to study about the election process? Any great books or websites? One good site about the government is Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.

(Book we enjoyed: If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier)