Exploros | The Right to Vote

The Right to Vote

Students learn about the history of voting rights in the United States, including the various amendments that extended these rights over time. They create a timeline of the significant events in that process. Next they explore voter registration and requirements and explain how voting has evolved since the country’s founding. Finally, students research and create a poster that reflects voting registration requirements for elections in their local and state government.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students learn about the history of voting rights in the United States, including the various amendments that extended these rights over time. They create a timeline of the significant events in that process. Next they explore voter registration and requirements and explain how voting has evolved since the country’s founding. Finally, students research and create a poster that reflects voting registration requirements for elections in their local and state government.

Objectives

Describe the history of voting rights in the United States.
Explain the impact of several amendments on the participation of minority groups and women.
Identify the requirements to vote in national, state, and local governments.

You probably hear about elections most from ads on TV or radio, signs in people’s yards, and conversations between adults. Sometimes you might not want to hear any more about elections. But if nobody voted, what would happen? How else would people’s voices be heard? In this experience you are going to learn more about the right to vote—and how people got it.

Objectives

Describe the history of voting rights in the United States.
Explain the impact of several amendments on the participation of minority groups and women.
Identify the requirements to vote in national, state, and local governments.

Voting is a big part of civic life in the United States. The U.S. government is a democracy, which means “rule by the people.” Voting is an important way for Americans to participate in ruling. To learn how voting works, begin by watching First Time Voter.

What questions do you have about voting?

Invite students to turn their questions into guiding questions for this experience.

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