Election Day and a class update!!!

Yesterday was election day in first grade!!! I knew I wanted to teach the election process and the basic idea of being a good citizen by voting in our country (it's in our social studies standards!!) ANNND FIRST GRADERS HAVE THE MOST FUN SOO..

Why not an election!?  

The problem I was coming up with prior to these lessons was talking about elections without ACTUALLY talking about our political candidates.  I figured I could get in less trouble teaching my kids about Jesus than talking about politics :).  SOOO I came up with this great idea!  Voting for books!  We would vote for the new books that we would add to our classroom library!  You see, last week, we won third place in a Halloween door decorating contest!

We did pretty good right!?

We won $25.00 towards books from Scholastic!  (Thank you PTO!)  This could be the ballot I was looking for!  And just like that - the kids told me books they loved, we make a ballot, and vualah!  MAGIC!  No republican/democrat/Hilary/Trump talk allowed.  In fact (lol) I told my kids the words Clinton and Trump were "bad words" that they weren't allowed to talk about at school.  (I JUST CAN'T!!) Plus - no 6 or 7 year old knows anything about politics.  They simply just repeat what their parents say at home ---- (Some isn't so positiive.... SO BOOKS IT IS :).  Here's a look at the ballot:

Then, I got some help from some 4th graders.  They were my poll workers.  "Welcome to the 2016 Election!" they said as each first grader came out into the hall to cast their secret ballot.  Then they checked out out their Voter Registration Cards, allowed them to vote, then gave them a sticker afterward.  This was so adorable!  I loved having the older kids helping!  Here's some pics of the magic!

London casting his vote!

Chris voting!

Hannah and Brianna (4th graders) checking Gianna's voter registration card!

William (4th grader) checking Finn's voter registration card!

Finn Voting!

Hunter with his voter registration card and "I Voted" sticker!

Aren't they cute??

And the winners are...

WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!

Now for a class update!

• Bella went to Branson over the weekend and she had so much fun!  She went on go carts and everything!
• Gianna got a big scrape on her elbow over the weekend :(
• Friday was London's birthday!
• This Friday is Emmet's birthday!  
• Alexi's sister Aunna met her reading goal in 2nd grade!  They celebrated today at lunch!
• Aubrey saw the Troll movie over the weekend and she loved it!!!
• Zachary had strep throat last week :/
• Derek is reading a book about Volcanoes and it's AMAZING!!! :)
• Mrs. Trauterman finished her grades!! WOO HOO!
• Lizzie got her first basket at basketball practice last night!  Rainey was there to see it! 

That's all for now!

PEACE
~Shelly