Election Day Ideas

Election Day can be a fun way to bring big ideas like leadership, choice, and responsibility (or even just voting!) into your Judaics lessons. Whether you’re teaching Chumash or general studies, these ideas will help engage students and have them think about important values.

1. Campaign Posters

Have students create campaign posters for characters that you’re learning about.
They can design posters for Yaakov and Esav, Shaul and David, or any other pair that fits what you’re learning.
Encourage catchy slogans, creative campaign promises, and visuals that show what each character stands for.

If you’re not specifically learning about characters right now, challenge students to create their own campaign slogan (and posters/speeches) based on a Torah concept or pasuk you’re learning.

For example:
From חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ – “Stand Strong. Lead Strong.”
From וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ – “Kindness Wins Every Time.”

2. Class Debates

Pick a question from what you’re learning, like “Who should be the Bechor; Yaakov or Esav?”
Split the class into two groups and have them prepare short arguments.
Then switch sides so everyone gets to try defending the opposite view.
It’s a great way to practice seeing things from more than one angle and using the text to back up ideas.

3. Classroom Vote

Turn your room into a real polling place.
Set up a simple ballot box (or even just use slips of paper) and have students vote on big ideas / questions related to the topic, or questions that help you know how to be an even better teacher.

• Why do we learn Chumash?
• If you could add one new subject to the school day, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite subject to learn?
• What was your favorite activity so far this year?
• What makes learning most fun for you?
• Do you like working in groups or on your own?
  Once the votes are in, use it to find a few small ways to make lessons your teaching even better.
  
  And of course, don’t forget to hand out “I Voted” stickers. There’s something so fun about them for kids.
  
  

4. Campaign Speeches

Ask students to write a short speech called “If I Were President” or “If I Were a Leader.” You can ask them to include things such as what their salary would be, what they might carry around with them, and what restrictions they might have.
This ties in beautifully with topics like leadership in Shoftim or Melachim.
After students share, discuss what the Torah teaches about a king’s responsibilities: staying humble, carrying a Sefer Torah, and the restrictions on indulgence.

5. Dewey Defeats Truman

Show your students the famous “Dewey Defeats Truman” newspaper headline and talk about how things aren’t always what they seem.
Use it to open a short discussion about not jumping to conclusions or making quick assumptions.
It’s a great conversation starter for every age.

6. Leadership Ballots

Have your students vote on what makes a good leader. Give everyone a few sticky notes and ask them to write one leadership trait on each. They can post their notes on the board under a “Ballot Wall.” Then, as a class, group similar ideas together and see which traits got the most votes. Students can also add tally marks on other notes if they agree with that idea. Once you’ve created your list, ask students to think to themselves: “Which leadership trait do you want to work on this month?”
Critical thinking + personal engagement for the win!

Let me know if you try these!
Mushkie