Kid Reporters put together an election for the Rising Star Awards again, creating promotions, campaigns, ballots and ballot boxes after school. The Rising Star is a student (they decided) who grew during the year by working through a productive struggle.
Fairness was at the top of their concerns which meant they debated and voted on all major decisions and put aside their own desires for the sake of the group decision. And no electioneering the day of the election and no overt bribes (cupcakes given freely ok, but money to buy votes was a no no). These are all rules the kids came up with. The kids decided that 4th graders should vote as well since they would soon be 5th graders and this would be on the ballot next year. Adults were only facilitators. Kid Reporters worked for 8 weeks, peer-to-peer after school to put together this election.
Top, Melanie, middle, Isabella, Madison and Cassidii. Bottom Eric, Camya and Jayden. All were very motivated to work together for the common cause. Almost all students showed remarkable behavioral improvements in just 8 weeks.
Communication is a huge part of any election. Posters were posted in the hallways so the whole school could see the election was underway..
Kid Reporters explained the election process to all 4th and 5th grade classes.
Each student made a button. Copies were made so that each 5th grader could be handed their own button at graduation . “Every kid is a rising star.” The children didn’t want anyone to feel left out since only 3 students would win.
The results were announced to each classroom. Camya, Jaliyah and Robert had won (in that order).
Melanie announced the awards. She started out by asking “How many of you voted?” The entire 5th grade raised their hands. All of the Kid Reporters shook the hands of the 3 award winners.
The students wrote and edited this one page article which (layout by Inquiring Minds) was printed by the PTA and distributed to all 4th and 5th graders as well as adults who attended graduation.