LAKE CITY — Some Northern Michigan educators are using the November elections as a springboard to educate kids about politics in America.
Lake City Elementary 5th graders are getting a lesson centered on the electoral college process of presidential elections.
5th grade school teacher Zach Jones said students were coloring in electoral college maps from the 1860 election and the 2016 election.
“I think it’s really important because it at least it sets the basic groundwork that foundation for them to understand it,” said Jones.
He said some students were struggling to understand the complicated process, a process difficult for even some adults to get. With the election this year, it just made sense.
“I think it helps them feel empowered and to kind of know what’s going on. Especially if they can kind of go home and, there may be siblings or other family members who aren’t quite sure how everything works. And then they can say, oh, we learned about this and here’s kind of how it works,” said Jones.
Students like 10-year-old Aaliyah Musselman, said she really enjoyed the exercise.
“It’s fun because you get to be a part of adulthood. Almost like you’re learning, almost like what adults would think. And I think you just kind of get a part of experience that you’ve never had before. And I just think that’s really awesome and fun,” said Musselman.
Jones said the 5th grade students seem to be really interested in the presidential election this year and being able to see the process in real time, really helps them learn.