Grades 2–5
Run for Class President
A campaign planning page: kids design a poster, write a slogan and list 3 realistic promises, then explain why classmates should vote for them.
Social studies worksheet · Government and citizenship
How an Election Works
Put the 6 steps of an election in order, from candidates sharing their ideas to the winner taking office, and learn when we vote for President.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–4
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Government and citizenship, Rules and laws, Voting, Rights and responsibilities
What kids do
“The steps of an election are mixed up. Number them 1 to 6 in order, then write them on the timeline.”
Printed on the sheet:
- The winner takes office and starts the job.
- On Election Day, voters go to a polling place.
- Each voter marks a secret ballot.
- People who want the job (candidates) share their ideas.
- The votes are counted.
- Citizens who are 18 or older sign up to vote.
- We vote for President every 4 years, on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
- Your vote is secret. No one has to know who you chose.
Teacher tip
Run a class election alongside the sheet.
How to use it
- Hold a real class vote on something small.
- Read the sheet together, since the vocabulary is new.
- Start with a quick question that connects the topic to kids’ own lives.
Watch for
Keep politics neutral. Focus on how government works, not on parties or people.
Talk about it
- How can kids help their community?
- How does this connect to where we live?
Take it further
Hold a mock election for a class decision.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More government and citizenship worksheets
Grades 2–5
Government Word Search
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Grades 2–5
A Letter to My Mayor
A civic action letter template: kids write to their mayor about a real problem in town (a broken swing, litter, a busy crossing) and suggest a fix.
Grades 2–5
Government: True or False
12 true-or-false sentences about government and citizenship: the voting age, the number of senators and justices, mayors, governors and the Constitution.
Free for teachers
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