1. VotesforSchools mock election 2017
Part 1 – Preparing for a mock election (45 mins)
Timing
Activity
Resources
2-4 minutes
Introducing the lesson: To begin the lesson, ask students to think about important stories that are in the news. Stories that they think they should pay attention to and that they have a say in. Then reveal the mock election activity. Remind students that being unable to vote does not mean they cannot campaign or have an influence on the outcome of the election.
PPT slides 1-4
5 minutes
Why are we doing this?: Slide 5 includes a brief summary of the general election. Encourage students to discuss the two questions in groups and extend the time if necessary. Click the image to watch a clip of the election announcement.
PPT slide 5
3-5 minutes
Explaining the election: (Choose slide 7 if you are using real parties, slide 8 if students are making their own parties). The first lesson is split into 5 steps. Take the students through the steps and make sure they understand them. The students will be split into groups, be given (or create) a party and pick a leader, research their party, choose the policies they want to promote and write a speech/plan a campaign.
PPT slides 6-8
5-7 minutes
Step 1 – Splitting the class: (Slide 10 (real parties) and 11 (their own parties) will structure the rest of the lesson. Leave the slide on the board and bring up each step as timing dictates.) For step 1 you have to separate the students into groups, pick their party for them* (or let them create one) and give them a set of resources.
N/A (slide 10/11)
(Slides 4-18 from resources pack)
Step 2 – Choosing a leader: This should be a quick step. Students here should choose the leader of their party. Older groups could also be encouraged to pick sector leaders, like the expert on education or health.
10 minutes
(+ homework)
Step 3 – Researching your party: Here groups are to work independently with the party resources to research their party and understand what their party and leader stand for. Print outs of slide 20 from the resources pack will help them to structure their research. They can do extra research on computers where possible and continue this as homework.
(Slides from resources pack)
Steps 4 & 5 – Speech and campaigning: Using slide 21 and slide 23 from the resources pack, students should then plan their speech and campaign. All should be involved in creating the speech, remind students they all could face questions about the party during the election. If there is time, students should look to other methods of campaigning, like making flyers, banners and continuing this outside the lesson.
Keywords:
General Election
Political parties
Manifesto
Resources
VotesforSchools Mock Election Sessions 1 & 2 – PowerPoint Presentation
VotesforSchools Mock Election Session Resources – PowerPoint Presentation (print outs of slides are advised, especially party profiles)
*Please Note: This mock election focuses on the five main parties that cover the entire UK (SNP for example is only represented in Scotland). Also, some students may take offense or might be sensitive to UKIP policies and attitudes, please use your own personal judgement to decide whether UKIP should be represented in the mock election

2. VotesforSchools mock election 2017 Part 2 – Election day! (45 mins)
Timing
Activity
Resources
2-3 minutes
Election recap: Before students launch into the lesson, give them a few minutes to collect their thoughts and prepare as a group for the election, as they will not have anymore time to prepare.
PPT slide 12
4-5 minutes
Registering to vote: (PRINT Slide 25 from resource pack) Slide 14 introduces students to the concept of registering to vote. Explain the importance of this, how you cannot vote without doing it and how they can do it from the age of 16 upwards. Print individual copies of slide 25 on the resources pack and give your students the form to fill in. Alternatively, they can put their details on a blank piece of paper. They should all hand them in to you.
PPT slides 13-14
(Slide 25 resource ppt)
3-4 minutes
Casting your vote: Following the voting theme, slide 15 encourages students to discuss the best reasons for voting. Give them three options and allow them to discuss. Encourage the discussion to move towards why it is important to vote for parties with policies that you agree with.
PPT slide 15
30 minutes
Election time!: (PRINT Slide 30/31 from resource pack) Students now have 30 minutes for speeches and questions. Each party leader should have a strict 3 minutes for their speech and then 3 minutes for questions which the rest of the party should answer (to get all students involved). Use slide 30/31 in the resources pack for students to make notes during the speeches and questions.
PPT slides (Slide 30/31 resource ppt)
5 minutes
Voting: (PRINT Slide 27/28 from resource pack) Students can now vote! Remember Students must vote for a different party from the one they were part of. If you campaigned for that party, you cannot vote for them. Ballot papers to be filled in with one cross then given in for counting. Results revealed whenever suits.
PPT slides 18-19
N/A
Call to action: Slide 21 includes two suggestions for how students can be more involved in the election. The second requires school involvement. Feel free to edit and use this slide as you like to encourage young people to be more involved in the election process
PPT slide 21
Keywords:
Hustings
Resources
VotesforSchools Mock Election Sessions 1 & 2 – PowerPoint Presentation
VotesforSchools Mock Election Session Resources – PowerPoint Presentation (print outs of slides are advised, especially voter registration sheets and ballot papers)
General Election Results Generator Secondary & Colleges – Excel Spreadsheet (for recording the election results)