TMS Students create voting experience for youth
This past week was the week every four years that many of us dread and others look forward to. Whether you are a political person or not, it’s important to exercise your right to have a say in who runs the country. It’s also important to pass down this responsibility to the little ones and to help them understand what it means to be an American. This past week, while we were voting for who we wanted to see in the White House, our little friends and family members at Broadway Elementary voted, too, but their issues were much more pressing. Chocolate Chip or Sugar Cookie? Dancing or Singing?
With the help of Tippecanoe Middle School art students, Broadway’s kindergarteners were able to feel just as patriotic as their parents on Tuesday, November 5. While the middle schoolers may have already learned and understood the importance of voting, they were tasked to create polls for the kindergartners, which taught them a little bit more about the voting process. The activity also created a learning opportunity for both the kindergartners and the middle schoolers to understand the Democratic process, civic duty, and the significance of voting.
Middle school art teacher Heather Combs created this project with the children’s best interests in mind. She says,” I think this project really encouraged our older students to reflect on the significance of symbols and the voting process. It helped them understand the history and meaning behind voting and gave them a chance to see how their choices can have a real impact. It also allowed them to practice making decisions in a thoughtful way, while connecting them to the younger students and showing them the importance of participation in a community.”
With all of the disagreements, disappointment, or excitement that comes with polling stations, it’s important to remember that we lead our kiddos by example. Now, it’s safe to say that nobody’s getting into fights or ruining family Thanksgiving over the singing vs dancing debate. However, the bright kindergarten students of Tippecanoe are learning how to respect each other’s opinions while upholding their own with pride. Eventually, voting will become their duty as an American citizen, and with the help of Heather Combs and their middle school pals, our kindergarten friends are ready to take on the Nation.
Art is such an important part of childhood and development in the younger years. We can find outlets in events of everyday life to help children understand important topics, as well as express themselves creatively. That’s exactly what Combs and the kindergarten teachers at Broadway accomplished with this project. Combs explained, “I believe this connection is really valuable for fostering a sense of community and building confidence for both the middle school and elementary students. The middle schoolers get excited about creating artwork that has a direct, meaningful impact, especially when it’s for the younger kids they might know from around the school or community. The younger students really look up to the older ones—they see them at games or around town, and they’re thrilled to interact with them. I’m looking forward to when we’re all in one building and can collaborate more often!”
When it comes to politics, there’s often a side of division. However, the bright little minds of our community are Instead learning about politics and voting while making friends and connections.