(20 Minutes)

OBJECTIVE
Students consider the power of American democracy in action, making decisions as an elected leader would.

MATERIALS
If I Were... handout; additional lined paper; scissors, glue

GET READY

• Copy an If I Were... handout for each student. If possible, use colored paper.
• Have additional paper available for students to write on.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Ask, In America can our leaders do whatever they want? Listen to student responses.
• Next, ask, What types of leaders do we have in America? (president, vice president, governor, senator, etc.) What are the jobs of these leaders?
• Tell your students to imagine they were just elected to office. Ask, What office would you want to hold? Governor? Senator? Mayor? President?
• Provide each student with an If I Were...handout. Tell them to use this handout to brainstorm ideas of what they would do if elected to office.
• Allow your students to write their ideas on the handout. You can have the students work with each other to come up with ideas.
• Students can additionally cut out the position they want from the handout and either glue or tape it to what they write (see handout).
• Allow students to share their work.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What were some of the best ideas that we heard?
• Did the ideas sound like they would be good for everyone? (Remember, leaders need to do their best for everyone.)
• Think about the office you wrote about. Can you name a power this leader has?
• Could you actually become this leader? What could you do to become a good leader?

DOWNLOAD THIS ACTIVITY WITH HANDOUT