The Democratic Method

People often ask what it is I teach, or how lesson planning works, such as: “Does one lesson plan work for the whole day?” or “What do kids learn about in Jr High?” Well in an effort to explain I’ve decided to include my newest lesson plan whose idea came to me while driving home Thursday night.

Lesson plan
Topic: US Government: Democracy
8th grade Social Studies
Time: 30 minutes

Overview: Kids will participate in the democratic process and complete a secret ballot to vote for their choice in the classroom election.

Hook: Ever feel like you don’t have any control over your life? Do your parents make all your decisions for you? How about your teachers? Well the United States was founded by men and women who were tired of being told what to do and so they created a government based on the democratic process, where every person has an equal vote. Today each of you gets to participate in that process and make a decision for the class.

Activity: Explain that in a democratic society every member gets an equal vote. “Today as a class we will be deciding how best to handle classroom disturbances. Every society has leaders, inventers, entrepreneurs, business people, laborers, and people who are a drain on society, using up resources and creating a general disturbance. These people are usually uneducated, or drug users. In an effort to improve society governmental officials are forced to manage these people and attempt to find ways to reduce their drain on society. As I said, every society has these “drains.” Can any one define society? They can be as big as a country or as small as a small town. A society could even be as small as a multi-aged classroom in a rural town of less than 2000 people."
"Today we are going to assess our classroom, and vote to reduce the problems of our society. In today’s vote you will all get a secret ballot. You, as the informed and experienced student, is allowed to cast one vote for the most disruptive and draining student in this classroom. The student receiving the most votes is obviously the largest drain on the society, based on the true nature of democracy, and they will be forced to leave the society, because as we all know the best way to handle the social dredges of society is to give them to someone else to deal with.”

Teacher will then pass out ballots and pencils. Upon completion and tally of the voting the student receiving the most votes will be escorted from the premises indefinitely.

Assessment: One student will be removed and never allowed to return to class.

Spin off activities: Election #2: There is always someone lowest on the achievement scale. When you remove the largest social menace there is a new largest social menace. (It’s a scientific wonder) Election #2 will eliminate the next most disruptive student. (Repeat elections as necessary)

Author’s note: Thanks JB for the great idea. I don’t even have a teacher’s union to check with first.

Author's note continued: More spin off lesson ideas: Compare and contrast with Survivor and American Idol. Possible essay assignment defining the similarities and differences in fairness, rational, and potential for only one winner in our classroom. (I like this one)