STUDENT VOTE BEST PRACTICES

#1 – Start with the basics Make sure students have an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the levels of government in Canada. It is the foundation for researching and debating the issues of the campaign. Our goal is to make it easy for you to engage your students in the election and their community. Having your students understand the distinctions between levels of government, and the responsibilities associated with each of them, is a crucial first step that opens so many doors for discussion. Start with the basics for teachers too! (Read the letters and emails sent by the CIVIX team) The information we send is important or is intended to support your job as Team Leader. We try not to over communicate. Always verify that the riding you registered for is the correct riding before we print and distribute ballots, and please open the box of materials we send your way.

#2 – Incorporate news consumption and media literacy every day It takes 21 days to build a habit. Let’s promote newspaper readership and media consumption. Encourage students to consume multiple sources and help them develop their critical thinking skills.

Implement a daily news review and create a media wall.

#3 – Explore issues that matter to your students Facilitate research into the issues that matter most to your students. Help them realize that government influences their lives. As a class, compare the candidate’s policy ideas or party platforms of your students’ top issues. Help them realize that politics matters, and government influences their lives.

#4 – Engage the candidates Give students a chance to get to know their candidates. Organize a friendly all-candidates forum, invite the candidates in for a one-on-one visit, email them questions from students, or engage with them through social media. One of the best ways for having students identify with issues on the campaign is to meet candidates. Remember to include all the candidates, not just the major parties!

#5 – Fuel political discussion at home Find ways to encourage democracy at the dinner table through take-home activities. Provide an opportunity for students to ‘teach’ their parents, guardians or older siblings about the voting process. Students are often inspired to take their newfound knowledge home and discuss the election with their parents.

This mother voted for the first time because of her daughter.

#6 – Involve your colleagues Developing the skills of citizenship is the purpose of schools — it's not just a social studies objective. Encourage your colleagues to get their students involved in Student Vote. Student Vote runs well when there is a group of teachers involved and everyone is working towards the goal of school-wide engagement.

#7 – Engage local media and give your students a voice Reach out to local media and invite them to track your school’s involvement in the election. Media coverage makes students feel that their opinions are valued and their participation is important. Some newspapers may be interested in publishing op-ed pieces by students or publishing an article and photos from Student Vote Day.

#8 – Use social media Exciting and real-time election coverage is available on social media. Create a classroom Twitter or Facebook account and track the parties, candidates and journalists, and engage with them.

#9 – Ensure students get the full election experience Create an election team with your students. Give as many students as possible a hands-on role promoting or coordinating Student Vote. See Suggestions for Wider Engagement in the resources you will receive. E.g., use departments such as communications, voter education, election day officials, and community and media relations.

#10 – Make Student Vote Day fun! Election day is an exciting day. Give your students an experience they will remember. Dress it up, make it fun, and celebrate our democratic rights and freedoms.

The Grade 5 ‘X-team’ dressed in polling official attire

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS How did you run the Student Vote program at your school? What went well? What didn’t? Do you have any lessons learned to share with other teachers? Did you share your political beliefs with your students? Why or why not? If yes, how did you share this information?

hello@civix.ca / salut@civix.ca