Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
Renzulli Learning provides your students with many outstanding “Type I” experiences - activities designed to expose students to a wide variety of disciplines, topics, occupations, hobbies, persons, places, and events that would not ordinarily be covered in the regular curriculum - as detailed in the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) by Dr. Joseph Renzulli and Dr. Sally Reis.
Election Resource for ALL Grades:
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
Do you have questions about the U.S. government and how it works? Let Ben Franklin guide you through it! Here is a place where you can learn about the branches of government, the election process, and how laws are made. It includes debate topics, word puzzles, historical documents, and more! Click your age range to explore the site at your level!
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
K-2
Blank Ballots - Creativity Training
Are you organizing a student election or a mock election? Print these ballots and distribute them to your voters! Each ballot has spaces for four candidates, plus one write-in candidate.
VPR But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: Who Makes the Laws? - Videos and Podcasts
Who makes the laws? That's what 5-year-old Paxton from Kelowna, British Columbia wants to know! We learn about laws with Mike Doyle of the Canadian organization Civix, and Syl Sobel, author of How the U.S. Government Works. Plus: how do elections work? And why does the UK have a government and a queen?
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: Who Makes the Laws?
Voting and the Election! - Critical Thinking
Election Day is a great opportunity to learn how voting works and why it's important for everyone to have a say when it comes to important issues. The books and activities on this site can teach you about the importance of elections, voting, and forming your own opinions. In addition to the election activities you will find some PJ Library book suggestions that relate to issues often represented on the ballot. This website is jammed with fun and informational videos and reading!
3-5
AU Kids News: 2019 Federal Election – Research Sites
In 2019, more than 16 million Australians voted in the federal election. This article provides information on how federal elections in Australia work. Check out the article to learn more.
Ducksters Education Site: United States Government Executive Branch – Research Sites
The President of the United States is the leader of our country! How does the President get elected? What are his job duties? Find out what the executive branch does in our government.
Ducksters Education Site: United States Government Executive Branch
DK Findout: What is an election? – Websites
An election is the process of voting to choose someone to be their political leader or representative in government. Learn more about elections and how they work by clicking the link.
6-9
Caribbean Elections: Citizenship and Responsibility – Websites
When a person has citizenship of a particular country they have certain rights in that country. For example, a citizen of a Caribbean country has the right to vote, get a passport and run for public office. Citizenship is about taking an active part in society. It is about how we live together in our communities and about how we ‘get on' locally, nationally and globally. It is about ensuring that everyone has the knowledge and skills to understand, engage with and challenge the main pillars of our democratic society - politics, the economy and the law. Citizenship is therefore about being a member of a community, and making a good contribution to that community. We are all members of many different communities: our family; our school; our local area; our village, town or city; our country; our world. It is important to understand and act in a responsible way in each of these communities. Click the link to learn more about Caribbean Citizenship and Responsibility.
How Voters Decide: Crash Course Government #38 – Videos and Podcasts
Craig tries to get inside the heads of voters by discussing how voters make decisions. Now obviously, like all decision making, voter decisions are influenced by a multitude of factors, but the three we are going to focus on today (and the three political scientists seem to think play the biggest role) are party loyalty, the issues involved in an election, and candidate characteristics. Episode 38 | 7m 33s
Know Your Candidates! –Websites
As a U.S. citizen, you have a responsibility to participate in choosing the best person to be our president. This requires a careful evaluation of each candidate's positions, beliefs, and qualifications. Whether or not you are old enough to vote, this website is a great place to find unbiased profiles of each of the major candidates for president, as well as other government positions.
10-12
270 To Win – Websites
Each state has a certain number of electoral votes! The "Road to 270" is the process of counting the number of electoral votes to determine who the next President will be! Check out this interactive map of the United States to learn about electoral votes!
About Government in South Africa – Websites
Are you looking for information on the government in South Africa? If so, this is the website for you! You will find information on elections, local government and more! Check out the information on Elections to compare how elections in South Africa work to the way elections work in other parts of the world.
About Government in South Africa
Election Structures and Reform – Websites
Did you know that Georgia is recognized as a pioneer in implementing innovative electoral policies? In 1943, Georgia became the first state in the nation to allow every citizen who was eighteen or older the right to vote! This website has tons of information about elections, voter eligibility, and reform in Georgia!
Election Structures and Reform
Each week, we will send you teaching suggestions and a few examples of our best and most popular resources. For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team