Elections and voting

Elections and voting

Key stages 2-4+
Launch Elections and voting interactive whiteboard

This classroom tool will help your students put UK general elections in context and understand how they give UK citizens a chance to make decisions about how their country is run.

  • Going to the polls invites you to hold a constituency election in the classroom.
  • Compare the vote allows you to compare first past the post with other common voting systems including the list system, the alternative vote and the single transferable vote.
  • Results are in lets your class explore how a UK general election result translates to 'seats' in the House of Commons.

The resource opens in a new, full-screen window for optimal use on whiteboards.

Launch: Elections and voting

Notes for Elections and voting

Aims
To familiarise students with general elections in the UK, including:

  • how candidates compete against one another to win constituency seats in parliamentary elections
  • how general election results translate to 'seats' in the House of Commons
  • how the voting system for UK general elections compares with systems elsewhere in the UK and around the world.  

Level 1 features simpler language, and fewer steps in the class and worksheet activities. Levels 2 and 3 move beyond the basics, offering a greater breadth and depth of learning and the opportunity to explore more options.  

Learning outcomes
This resource supports the Citizenship and political literacy strands of the National Curriculum - in particular the teaching of democracy, elections and voting across key stages 2-4 and above.

Students can explore the key features of parliamentary democracy and government in the constituent parts of the UK, including voting and elections (particularly relevant at KS3). They also have the chance to compare and contrast the UK form of government and voting system in general elections with systems in other parts of the UK and in other countries (a learning outcome at KS4).

The resource also supports GCSE and A level citizenship studies by looking at the nature of representative democracy and democratic processes that involve the participation of citizens in decision making. 

Teacher's guide
Simple walkthrough guides for making the most of each level.

Worksheets
Downloadable worksheets for students to complement the whiteboard resource.

Usage
This resource is designed as a classroom presentation tool. It has been optimised for use on interactive whiteboards, but can also be used on a standard projector.

Requires Flash player 9 or above and Javascript to be enabled.

General Elections Explained

Watch as comedian Jay Foreman explores what happens during a general election and questions why young people should take part. Available to order for key stage 3 and 4 students.

The alternative vote referendum

About referendums

What is a referendum and when have they taken place in the past?

Compare the vote

How does the alternative vote work and what makes it different from other voting systems used in the UK? Try the 'Compare the vote' activity to find out.

Subject guide on AV

Find links to the best resources on the alternative vote, all in one place.

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