You will learn
- Define election, representative, ballot, candidate.
- Explain how elections work.
- Describe what is elected.
- Run a fair mock election.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Elections let people choose leaders.
- Voting should be free, fair and secret.
- Citizens elect the President, Parliament and councils.
- Representatives speak for others.
Words to know
a process in which citizens vote to choose leaders or decide an issue
a person chosen to speak and act for others
the paper or system used to cast a vote in secret
a person who seeks to be elected
1. Discover: The class vote
Ms Smith asks the class to choose a theme for the school open day: a garden, a book fair or a sports morning. “First, we make a list of the options. Then each person gets one ballot and votes in secret. A neutral helper counts and the result is shared,” she says. “In Sierra Leone citizens aged eighteen and over can vote. An independent body, the Electoral Commission, runs national elections. Citizens elect the President, Members of Parliament and local councillors.”
Think: Why is a secret ballot fairer than voting out loud?
2. Understand: Elections
Idea 1: How elections work
An election lets citizens choose leaders. Eligible voters, aged eighteen and over in Sierra Leone, register, then cast a ballot in secret. Independent officials, observers and party agents watch the count, and results are announced. A fair election is free of threats, bribes or cheating.
Idea 2: What is elected
Citizens elect a President, Members of Parliament and local councillors. A representative speaks and acts for the people who chose them. A candidate asks for votes by explaining plans. Elected leaders serve for a set term and must seek the people’s support again to continue.
Idea 3: Every voice matters
When people vote, they help decide who makes decisions. Even those too young to vote can learn about candidates’ plans, discuss respectfully, and help others take part. Peaceful, respectful behaviour before and after elections protects communities. Disagreements are settled by the rules.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Define
Ballot.
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: The way a vote is cast in secret.
Example 2 (We do it together): Name
The minimum voting age.
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: Eighteen.
Example 3 (You try): Name
Who is elected.
Show the steps and answer
- Think.
- Say.
- Check.
Answer: President, MPs, councillors.
Did you know?
Some countries make voting compulsory, while others leave it to each citizen to choose.
Why this matters
Fair elections give citizens a peaceful way to choose and change leaders.
4. Explore: Mock election
Hold a fair mock election on a neutral class issue with candidates for a class job (for example a garden monitor). Each candidate presents a short plan; voters cast secret ballots; two neutral helpers count; announce the result and thank everyone.
- Plan.
- Vote.
- Count.
- Reflect.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Rules made the vote fair.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- An election is ___.
- A representative is ___.
- A ballot is ___.
- A candidate is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is an election?
Voting to choose.
Question 2. Who is a representative?
Speaks for others.
Question 3. What is a ballot?
The vote paper.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is an election?
- Who is a representative?
- What is a ballot?
- Who is a candidate?
- What is the voting age?
Level 2: Grow
- Why secret ballot?
- Why neutral count?
- Why peaceful?
Level 3: Stretch
- Present a plan.
- Vote.
- Count fairly.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Social Studies in everyday life
Name three things that make an election fair.
Show a sample answer
Secret ballot, neutral count, free choice.
Another one. Ask an adult why it is important that elections are peaceful.
Show a sample answer
Share.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Each vote counts.
Fix: We respect results and each other.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can define election, representative, ballot, candidate.
- I can explain how elections work.
- I can describe what is elected.
- I can run a fair mock election.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Elections let people choose leaders.
- Voting should be free, fair and secret.
- Citizens elect the President, Parliament and councils.
- Representatives speak for others.
11. Next lesson
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Define election and representative. [2 marks]
- Name three things Sierra Leoneans elect. [3 marks]
- Explain two features of a fair election. [3 marks]
- Say why voting matters. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Election [1]; representative [1]
- Three [3]
- Feature 1 [1]; feature 2 [1]; reason [1]
- Choice [1]; voice [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is an election?
- Who is a representative?
- What is a ballot?
- Who is a candidate?
- What is the voting age?
- Why secret ballot?
- Why neutral count?
- Why peaceful?
- Present a plan.
- Vote.
Homework
Make a ballot and design a ballot box.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is an election? | Voting to choose. | 1 |
| 2. Who is a representative? | Speaks for others. | 1 |
| 3. What is a ballot? | The vote paper. | 1 |
| 4. Who is a candidate? | Seeks election. | 1 |
| 5. What is the voting age? | Eighteen. | 1 |
| 6. Why secret ballot? | Freedom to choose. | 1 |
| 7. Why neutral count? | Fairness. | 1 |
| 8. Why peaceful? | Protect community. | 1 |
| 9. Present a plan. | Plan. | 1 |
| 10. Vote. | Vote. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Voting to choose.; 2 Speaks for others.; 3 The vote paper.; 4 Seeks election.; 5 Eighteen.. Level 2: 1 Freedom to choose.; 2 Fairness.; 3 Protect community.. Level 3: 1 Plan.; 2 Vote.; 3 Count..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Define election, representative, ballot, candidate | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Explain how elections work | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Describe what is elected | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Run a fair mock election | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “One vote does not matter.” Each vote counts.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Make an election chart.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child holds a mock election on a neutral class issue. Please talk about fair choices and respect. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Talk about fair choices.
- Respect results.
- Praise participation.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: define election, representative, ballot, candidate; explain how elections work; describe what is elected; run a fair mock election.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 5 ideas: purposes, levels and institutions of government, constitutions and lawmaking.
Materials. Ballot slips, box, candidate cards. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Prepare mock election materials.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Tell the class vote story.
Explanation (10 min). Teach elections.
Guided activity (10 min). Mock election.
Independent activity (10 min). Discuss.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How do elections work and why do they matter?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with a picture, story, map or local example. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always ask “how do you know?” and invite more than one view. Treat every family, culture and community with respect, and never ask learners to share private information.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures, maps, real objects and short sentences, and let learners work with a partner. Let learners point, show, act or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example from their own community and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “One vote does not matter.” Each vote counts.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Make an election chart. Enrichment. Find one new example near your home or school, draw or write about it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: NCSS standards and C3 Framework, Cambridge Primary Humanities and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Social Studies curriculum, Grade 5 Unit 5, topic 7; NCSS C3 Framework, civic and political institutions, participation and deliberation, processes, rules and laws; Cambridge Lower Secondary Humanities, citizenship and government; IB Primary Years Programme, how we organise ourselves. These sources informed the lesson.