Kids can be interested in democracy too! Just like French, history, and the arts, democracy and citizenship are subjects that can be taught in class. But why should you teach your students about democracy and citizenship, and how can you go about it?
Recent events in the news have underscored just how fragile democracy can be. To keep this essential institution alive, it is important to teach children about our democratic heritage from an early age.
All members of the community (young and old!) can help keep democracy thriving. Voting is an important responsibility, but there are a number of other ways to exercise your citizenship too, and many of them are within students’ reach: getting involved in a cause, running for student council, participating in projects to improve school life, staying informed about what is happening in the community, etc.
Learning about the different facets of our democracy helps students gradually understand how the society in which we live operates. In addition, it helps them become well-rounded individuals, as they also learn about mutual aid, respect, tolerance, and inclusivity—values that will serve them throughout their lives.
Learning about democracy and citizenship can be both educational and fun. You can make connections between these concepts and different school subjects.
Here are some creative ways to introduce students to democracy and citizenship:
- Have students participate in an informal conversation or a more structured discussion about these themes. For instance, you could ask students to reflect on the benefits of living in a democracy or what they can do to participate in the democratic life of their community.
- When you hear the word democracy, what comes to mind? Use this question as a prompt for an essay or art project.
- Experiment with voting in class by holding a mock election during election season. Choose a question about something that affects your students (just like in a referendum!) or ask them to vote on a reward activity.
- Consult news sources for articles to read in class. In addition to learning about the issues in their community, your students will improve their media literacy and develop the reflexes they need to become informed citizens. Pro tip: many news sites have a kids section.
- Use the results of the last election to play with numbers and practice working with mathematical concepts like statistics, graphs, and percentages. You could even compare the results with those from simulated school elections!
The Democracy Education Zone on the Élections Québec website features educational activities designed to teach young people about the right to vote, the levels of government, and the role of our democratic institutions.
Lastly, if your school has a student council, it can be a great opportunity for students to participate in decisions that affect them. Council members have the chance to learn the ins and outs of a democratic system, contribute to meaningful projects, and discover that their ideas can have a positive impact on the world around them. Many studies show that positive engagement experiences at school are valuable assets for developing a sense of belonging and achieving academic success!
Writing : Marlène Lebreux - democracy education consultant, Élections Québec
Kids can be introduced to the idea of democracy and encouraged to take an interest in it from a very young age. Marlène Lebreux, a democracy education advisor for Élections Québec, works with schools and communities on a variety of projects in this vein. She is also a mom with a passion for reading and writing. She enjoys writing about concepts in a way that is accessible to audiences both young and old so that they can appreciate and better understand the democratic society in which we live.