EDMOND —
Students at Cross Timbers Elementary and Clegern Elementary joined elementary children across the district as the celebrated being an American by voting for their favorite candidate Tuesday.
“I have waited to do this unit since I came back to education,” said Kelly Bertels, who returned to education 2 1/2 years ago after being a stay-at-home mom. “Our common core objective this year is ‘Community,’ and we have been studying how it is our right to vote in our community.”
This community of second-graders made voter identification cards complete with hand-drawn self portraits in the bottom right-hand corner that had to be shown in order to receive a ballot.
Ballots not only included the names to vote for president and vice president of the United States, but they also included seven questions to vote on from Favorite Video to Favorite Read-Aloud Book, Favorite Recess Activity and one item the cafeteria should serve.
After depositing their ballots each student received an “I Voted” sticker just like the adults voting Tuesday were given.
Students seemed to have learned the importance of voting during this week’s activities to the importance of not telling who they cast their vote for.
“We should vote because we need the world to change,” said second-grader Sandra Ziegler. “It is your right and your responsibility to vote. When you vote you should pay attention to what you are voting for, and when you are finished voting keep it to yourself.”
Dakota Jester, second grade, said, “It is important to keep it to yourself. It is important to me because I didn’t tell everybody. I didn’t tell anybody, not even my mom or dad. I voted for the person I voted for because I liked him.”
Votes were tallied Tuesday afternoon and then the Electoral College, made up of students in Kiffany McCurdy’s class, cast their ballots.
At Cross Timbers when the last vote was tallied Bertels said, “Mitt Romney won by a landslide.”
Clegern Elementary students at all levels voted for president and vice president, and beginning Nov. 12-16 the library Media Director Sherry Park will be leading the students in “Let Freedom Read Week” as part of the national Children’s Book Week activities.
Fifth-graders served as election ushers, clerks, judges, inspectors and marshalls for the day’s voting.
“It is very important to have leaders for America,” said fifth-grader Lucas Canary. “If nobody votes then who will be president?”
Classmate Zane Bentley said, “I definitely think it is important to vote. We want to be able to choose our leaders.”
At Clegern, Mitt Romney led Barack Obama in a 2-to-1 final total with a little more than 180 students voting for Romney and almost 90 students voting for Obama.
Education
Related Photos
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Second-graders, from left, Jayden Conway, Madie Cohlmia and Vivian Li cast ballots at Clegern Elementary on Tuesday.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Cross Timbers second-grader Lily Weaver looks at a listing of former presidents Tuesday in Kelly Bertels' class.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Maddie Borror, Ava Ashley and Madison Burt (from left) line up to cast their ballots in a mock election Tuesday at Cross Timbers Elementary.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Cross Timbers second-grade teacher Kelly Bertels hands back Madison Burt's ballot Tuesday during a lesson on voting.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN Clegern Elementary Bishop Kelly and River Boudreau hand out "I voted" stickers after students put in their ballots.
Discussion
Elementary students join parents at the polls
Romney overturns Obama with younger set
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