Hernandez Middle School government teachers have provided students with the opportunity to participate in a mock election, in alignment with the upcoming presidential election.
Through the “Flexlection,” Hernandez students were able to spend a week during their flex period to evaluate where each party stands on issues such as education, the economy and jobs, and health care. The students learned the importance of making informed decisions and the process for voting.
Each grade level is required by the state to learn government and citizenship standards. The students at Hernandez, from 6th to 8th grade (at differentiated levels), are engaged in their social studies classrooms exploring the concepts of limited and unlimited governments, learning the rights and responsibilities of citizens, as well as the importance of expression of different perspectives in a democratic society.
“We saw this as a great opportunity to address state standards while making connections through real-world experiences,” said Akea Powell, Hernandez social studies department chair.
The Social Studies Department conducted early voting and trained flex classes to be election workers for the mock election. The students took ownership and managed the voting rooms, which were set up in the Social Studies classrooms.
“I am so proud of how well the students took their roles and implemented them flawlessly,” Powell said.
Other flex classes went through a presentation for the “Flexlection.” The presentation included a schedule to inform their peers of their designated time to visit the voting rooms. The students filled out a voter registration application and card and were required to bring their voter registration cards to the voting rooms to go to a booth to vote. Election workers ensured the voting rooms were calm and quiet and invited voters in as voters left. The election workers thanked the voters for voting and left them with an “I VOTED Today” sticker. The flex classes returned to their flex classes to write a letter to the future president.
“During the “flex”ible teaching class period we teach our students how to think & participate in a global society, IB Coordinator Desiree Le said. “The students for the last few weeks have been exploring the United Nations global goals to learn how to be heroes in their school and the Round Rock community. This week the students studied the democratic and republican viewpoints on the defense of our nation, climate change along with the economy and jobs. Students explore and experience real life problems as global citizens that can impact the world around them.”
