Student Vote 2015 CAMPAIGN GUIDE studentvote.ca #studentvote15
X NATIONAL STUDENT VOTE WEEK OCTOBER 13-16, 2015 Important Reminder: Please make sure you have registered your school for the correct riding. You will receive ballots based on this information. Riding boundaries have changed since the last election and therefore we strongly suggest that you verify your school s riding using the postal code search on the Elections Canada website ( My voter information www.elections.ca). The deadline to change your riding or ballot information is September 30, 2015.
Dear Student Vote Team Leader, We would like to thank you for engaging your students in the Student Vote program for the 2015 federal election. You are joining thousands of schools across Canada in the largest Student Vote program ever conducted. We are optimistic that this campaign will reach over 700,000 students from coast to coast to coast. We have developed this campaign guide to summarize the materials and tools available, highlight important dates, propose an overarching learning strategy, and offer helpful tips for running the program. Please use, modify, re-arrange and choose from the materials as you see fit. We hope you find them easy to navigate and use in your classroom. An evaluation of the Student Vote program by Elections Canada has shown that participating students engage their family in the election, which results in a positive impact on voter turnout. You have taken on the important task of coordinating this program and by doing so may improve electoral participation in your surrounding community. Every Tuesday you can expect an email newsletter from us with important updates and reminders, and links to additional tools and resources. We have got a long list of special projects in the works so stay tuned. National Student Vote Week will be held from October 13 to 16 before the official election day Monday. Please make sure to report your school s results by 6pm local time on October 16 in order to be included in the media tallies. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team at hello@civix.ca or 1-866-488-8775. Good luck and have fun, Taylor Gunn President and CEO
Vote on: OF THE OR OF A Campaign Materials EVERY ONE HAS THE FOLLOWING FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS STUDENT VOTE FEDERAL ELECTION OF: CONSCIENCE & RELIGION THOUGHT, BELIEF, OPINION & EXPRESSION PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY... ASSOCIATION #studentvote15 SECONDARY RESOURCE EVERY CITIZEN CANADA HASRIGHT TO VOTE HOUSE OF COMMONS Coordinated by Supported by STUDENT VOTE 2015 Resource Package Each resource package has been tailored to the language and level requested, taking into account the number of expected participants. Your resource package will include: Activity resources: The resources include a variety of learning strategies, activities and worksheets. Elementary/Intermediate is for Grades 4-8 and Secondary is for Grades 9-12. Election manual: A guide to assist in the organization of the actual election, summarizing roles, procedures and how to report results. Campaign posters: Designed to increase awareness and enthusiasm for Student Vote Day. Riding map: A national map with the breakdown of all 338 ridings in Canada. Ballot boxes and voting screens: Only if requested. If you need more, let us know. Online Materials To assist in the learning and instruction, CIVIX has developed a variety of online tools to accompany the printed material. Please visit www.studentvote.ca (Teaching Resources, Educational Tools). Editable handouts and worksheets: If you would like to adapt any of the worksheets or handouts in the activity resource, feel free to download the editable Word versions from the website. Curriculum links: You will find a list of links to the mandated curriculum for each lesson in each province and territory. Slide decks: For each lesson, there is an accompanying PowerPoint presentation which includes background information, key words and definitions, and discussion questions. Educational videos: CIVIX has developed four videos to help teach democracy, our rights and responsibilities, the levels of government and our electoral system. Ballot Package Following the close of candidate nominations we will prepare your ballots. You can expect to receive this package by Friday, October 9. If you need them earlier, please let us know. Ballots: Your ballots will include the names of all candidates running for election in your school s riding along with their party association, if applicable. Election manual: Just in case you misplaced your manual or need another, you will receive a second copy. Statement of the Poll form: You will receive a unique form for recording and reporting your results. This form will include your ID and Poll Code.
Overall Learning Approach CIVIX has prepared an overall learning approach to help guide you through the Student Vote program. Step 1 Government & Democracy What is the role of government? How does democracy compare to other types of government? What does it mean to live in a democracy? X Our Rights and Responsibilities What democratic rights do we have in Canada? What responsibilities come along with our rights? Why is voting important? Three Levels of Government: Who, What and Where? How does government impact my life? What roles and responsibilities exist at each level? What is the federal government responsible for? The Parties Who are the leaders of the parties? What are the parties planning to do if elected? Which party do my beliefs and values align with most? My Riding and My Candidates What is the name of my riding and which candidates are running for election? What should I look for in a local candidate? What local issues are important to me? Step 6 My Voice, My Choice Which candidate should I vote for? How do I mark my ballot? Who will form the next government?
Lesson Pathways STUDENT VOTE FEDERAL ELECTION SECONDARY RESOURCE The following pathways have been developed to address the most important information within five classes leading up to your Student Vote Day. A three-day pathway can also be found online. Secondary Resource Day 1 2 3 4 5 Learning and Activities Lesson 1: Hook (5-10 min) Video 1: Government and Democracy (5 min) Review Handout 1.1: Principles of Democracy (10 min) Lesson 1: Debrief (5 min) Video 2: The Right to Vote (5 min) Lesson 2: Activity (25-30 min, plus homework) Lesson 2: Debrief (5-10 min) Worksheet 2.3: The Right to Vote (homework) Lesson 3: Hook (15 min) Video 3: The Levels of Government (5 min) PowerPoint 3: The Levels of Government (10-15 min) Handout 3.2: Government Responsibilities (5-10 min) Lesson 3: Activity or Extension Activity E (20-25 min) Worksheet 3.3: Investigating Government (homework) Lesson 4: Hook or Extension B Vote Compass (20-25 min) PowerPoint 4: Political Parties (10 min) Lesson 6: Extension B (20-25 min) Lesson 5: Debrief (5-10 min) Research the party platforms and complete Worksheet 4.5 or 4.6 (homework) Lesson 5: Hook (10-15 min) Video 4: Our Electoral System (5 min) Lesson 5: Discussion (5 min) Lesson 5: Activity (40 min, plus homework) Lesson 8: Instruction / PowerPoint 8 (10 min) Presentations from Day 4 (25 min) Debrief on homework from Day 3/Party Platforms (20 min) Lesson 8: Debrief Worksheet 8.1: Preparing to Vote (homework) For Parents/Guardians Worksheet 8.2: Voter s Checklist (homework)
STUDENT VOTE FEDERAL ELECTION ELEMENTARY/INTERMEDIATE RESOURCE Day 1 2 3 4 5 Elementary Resource Learning and Activities Lesson 1: Hook (25 min) Video 1: Government and Democracy (5 min) PowerPoint 2: Rights and Responsibilities (15 min) Video 2: The Right to Vote (5 min) Lesson 2: Debrief (5-10 min) Worksheet 2.6: The Right to Vote (homework) Video 3: The Levels of Government (5 min) PowerPoint 3: Three Levels of Government (15 min) Lesson 3: Activity/Worksheet 3.1 (20 min) Lesson 4: Hook (20 min) Worksheet 3.2: Investigating Government (homework) Lesson 4: Hook continued Presentations from Day 2 (10 min) PowerPoint 4: Political Parties (10 min) Lesson 4: Activity (40 min, plus homework) Lesson 5: Hook (10 min) Video 4: Our Electoral System (5 min) PowerPoint 5: Local Candidates and Issues (10 min) Lesson 5: Discussion (10 min) Review the list of candidates running in your riding and fill out Worksheet 5.1 (5 min) Lesson 4: Activity Continued group work from Day 3 (20 min) Lesson 5: Extension B Ask students to research their local candidates (homework) Lesson 7: Hook (10 min) PowerPoint 7: The Voting Process (15 min) Lesson 4: Activity continued Group presentations from Day 3 & 4 (25 min) Lesson 7: Debrief (10 min) Worksheet 7.1: Preparing to Vote (homework) For Parents/Guardians Worksheet 7.5: Voter s Checklist (homework)
Cross-Curricular Activities Although all of the lessons in the pedagogical resources are linked to various Social Studies and Social Sciences outcomes, there are also activities suited to English/Language Arts, The Fine Arts, as well as Math and Statistics. A few examples of cross-curricular activities are provided here: Subject Suggested Activities English/ Language Arts Research the parties and candidates, and write summaries or profiles (Lesson 4, 5) Analyze political ads (Lesson 6) Compare different types of media (Lesson 6) Develop multi-media pieces to promote voter participation Write articles or journal reflections about the election Complete the Election Scrapbook activity The Arts Create posters and marketing materials to advertise the election or Student Vote Day (Lesson 2) Coordinate a mock debate and have students represent the different leaders or candidates (Lesson 5) Geography and History Investigate your riding, including historical information, demographics, boundaries and geographic features Research the history of voting rights in Canada, the pathway to universal suffrage and important political figures (Lesson 2) Economics Learn about the federal government s revenues and expenditures (Secondary Lesson 3) Research the fiscal policies of the political parties Math and Statistics Organize an opinion poll, including data collection and analysis (Secondary Lesson 7) Analyze the Student Vote and general election results (Elementary Lesson 8 and Secondary Lesson 9)
#studentvote15 CIVIX uses social media on a daily basis to share news, updates and other important information. During the 2015 federal election, we have partnered with Twitter Canada to help share student opinions from across the country. Here are our suggestions on how to best use Twitter, and other social media, in your Student Vote classroom: #1 #2 #3 #4 Go to twitter.com and create an account for your class. You can either use your own name (e.g., @MrSmithTeacher), or use the name of your class (e.g., @SmithGrade10). Follow our accounts. We have three accounts that are updated multiple times per day with news, photos and important campaign updates: @studentvote, @CIVIX_Canada and @voteétudiant. While you re at it, you can also follow Elections Canada (@ElectionsCan_E), and local and national media accounts. Track the parties and your candidates to get updates from the campaign trail. Share updates from the campaign and your Student Vote Day. Post photos, videos and student opinions, and we ll favourite and retweet them. Use hashtags. The hashtag we re using for the 2015 election is #studentvote15. Use this in your tweets, or search for tweets that use it, and you ll find tweets from us and others about Student Vote 2015. Many school boards/divisions also use their own hashtags, and #cdned is commonly used to share with educators across the country. Many candidates, parties and the media are using #elxn42 for the federal campaign. Other Tools Pollenize pollenize.org/canada Looking for student-friendly party platform summaries? Pollenize breaks down the platforms of the six major parties point-by-point and provides Canadians young and old with the information they need to make an informed decision. Vote Compass votecompass.ca Want to help students figure out where they stand in relation to the parties? Vote Compass was developed by political scientists and aims to help people discover how they fit in the federal political landscape. After answering a short online questionnaire, students will learn which party is most closely aligned with their own views.
Tips for Success #1 Start with the basics Make sure students have an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government in Canada. It is the foundation for researching and debating the issues of the campaign. NEWS #2 Incorporate news consumption and media literacy every day It takes 21 days to build a habit. Promote daily newspaper readership and media consumption. Encourage students to consume multiple sources and help them develop their critical thinking skills. #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 party platforms of your students top issues. #4 Engage the candidates Give students a chance to get to know their candidates. Organize a friendly allcandidates forum, invite the candidates in for a one-on-one visit, email them questions from students, or engage with them through social media. #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 about the voting process.
#6 Involve your colleagues Developing the skills of citizenship is the purpose of schools it's not just a social studies objective. Inspire your colleagues to get their students involved in Student Vote. #7 Engage local media and give your students a voice Reach out to media and invite them to track your school s involvement in the election. Some newspapers may be interested in publishing op-ed pieces by students or an article and photos from Student Vote Day. Media coverage makes students feel valued and that their participation is important. #8 Use social media This election is being called the social media election. Create a classroom Twitter or Facebook account and track the parties, candidates and journalists, and engage with them. X #9 Ensure students get the full experience of an election Create an election team with your students. Give as many students as possible a hands-on role promoting or coordinating Student Vote. Use departments such as communications, voter education, election officials, and community and media relations (See Suggestions for Wider Engagement in your activity guide). #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.
Election Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday SEPTEMBER 13 14 15 Student Vote Newsletter 16 17 The Globe and Mail s Leaders Debate 18 19 20 21 22 Student Vote Newsletter 23 24 Radio Canada Leaders Debate (en français) 25 26 27 28 Munk Debate on Foreign Policy Close of Candidate Nominations 29 Student Vote Newsletter 30 Last day to change ballots OCTOBER 1 2 TVA Leaders Debate (en français) 3 4 5 6 Student Vote Newsletter 7 8 Schools receive ballots 9 Schools receive ballots 10 Advance Polls Advance Polls 11 12 Thanksgiving 13 Student Vote Newsletter 14 15 16 Last day to report results 17 Advance Polls Advance Polls National Student Vote Week 18 19 Election day 20 21 22 23 24