7 Class election

Party name

Party colour

Party symbol

Party slogan*

Party manifesto*
Our three top
promises are to

1.

We will introduce

We will reform*

2.
We will abolish*

3.

The following celebrities will support us and feature in our advertising:

Vote for us and

A slogan is a
short phrase
to advertise or
promote your
party e.g. A vote
for us is a green
vote.
A manifesto is a
statement of the
main things you
will do if you
win power.
If you reform
something, you
improve it by
getting rid of bad
features.
If you abolish
something, you
completely get
rid of it.

Election poster

Photocopiable

Learning Teaching Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2011. This page may be photocopied for use in class.

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7 Class election
Activity
Groupwork & whole class. Students prepare political parties
and candidates for a mock election.

Focus
Theme: politics & elections.

Preparation
Photocopy one worksheet for each student.

Procedure
Explain that students are going to create new political
parties, choose candidates and vote in a mock election.
Divide the class into groups of three to four students.
(N.B. Larger groups are also possible.)
Hand out one worksheet to each student. Quickly go
through the questions and key vocabulary especially
slogan, manifesto, reform and abolish. Make sure students
understand what they need to discuss and decide for each
question. Each group has to invent a political party. These
could be based on:
1 serious national, international or general political issues,
e.g. Save the rainforests party.
2 local or school issues, e.g. Keep the canteen open after
3 pm party.
3 Humorous or silly issues, e.g. Wear more flowers in your
hair party.
Groups do not need to answer all the questions. When
groups agree answers, every member should make a note
of them.
When students have prepared their slogans, manifestos,
etc. tell them that the election will be held in ten minutes.
Students must now choose one of the group as their
candidate, i.e. the student who will represent the party at
the election. The group must help the candidate to prepare
a short speech telling people why they should vote for
them. One other member of the group should prepare a
brief introduction to their candidate.
Hold the election as a whole class activity. In turn
each group will introduce their candidate and then
the candidate from the group will give a short speech.
(Candidates can make use of their slogan, poster, etc. if
they wish to.)
At the end, ask students to vote honestly for the party
that they thought had the best manifesto and candidate.
Groups may not vote for their own party or candidate.

Note
This is a rewarding but potentially lengthy activity. The
worksheet stage will probably take at least ten minutes,
while the election itself may take three to six minutes per
party (depending on how much they say). In a larger class,
the activity could easily last 45 minutes or more. To make it
shorter, omit the election stage completely and simply ask
students to summarize their ideas after the worksheet stage.

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