Grade 2 | HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
WEEK 7 • TEACHER GUIDE AND ANSWER KEY • DAYS 31–35
Read each lesson aloud with the child and model the worked example before practice. Do not show this key during practice. Accept oral, drawn or written answers where the child cannot yet write the whole answer. On Day 35, read aloud if needed but give no hints.
Week 7 Student Textbook | Week 7 Practice Workbook | Week 7 Teacher Guide | Week 6 Student Textbook | Week 8 Student Textbook | Grade 2 index
Day 31: What Is Voting?
Standard: SS24.2.3
Practice record: Class vote: Field trip, printed on the Week 7 Practice Workbook.
Worked example: In a class vote, 12 children chose pizza and 8 chose tacos. Which food won? Worked answer: Pizza won.
- The zoo (9 votes).
- 20 votes (9 + 6 + 5).
- If some people got more votes than others, the result would not be fair. One vote each means every person’s choice counts the same. Accept any answer about fairness or equal say.
Teaching note: Hold a real family vote on something simple, such as a game to play, and count the votes together.
Day 32: Who Can Vote?
Standard: SS24.2.3
Practice record: To vote in Alabama, printed on the Week 7 Practice Workbook.
Worked example: Can a 12-year-old vote in an election for governor? Worked answer: No. A voter must be at least 18 years old.
- At least 18 years old.
- 1971.
- Registering lets election workers know who is allowed to vote and helps make sure each person votes only once. Accept any answer about knowing who may vote or keeping voting fair.
Teaching note: Rules on this page are from the Alabama Secretary of State and the National Archives (see Sources). Detailed eligibility rules are left for older grades.
Day 33: Casting a Secret Ballot
Standard: SS24.2.3
Practice record: Steps on Election Day, printed on the Week 7 Practice Workbook.
Worked example: What is a ballot? Worked answer: The paper or screen a voter uses to mark choices.
- Marks the ballot in private.
- It is put into a machine or box to be counted.
- A secret ballot lets each person vote for what he or she really wants, without anyone watching, pressuring or punishing the voter. Accept any answer about freedom to choose without pressure.
Teaching note: Practice a secret ballot at home: each person writes a choice on a slip of paper, folds it and drops it in a box.
Day 34: What Do We Vote For?
Standard: SS24.2.3
Practice record: Terms of office, printed on the Week 7 Practice Workbook.
Worked example: How long is one term for the President of the United States? Worked answer: 4 years.
- United States senator (6 years).
- United States representative (2 years).
- When a term ends, the people vote again. They can keep a leader who served well or choose someone new. Leaders must answer to the people. Accept any answer about voters getting to choose again.
Teaching note: Terms for President, senators and representatives are set in the U.S. Constitution (see Sources).
Day 35: Independent Check: Voting
Standard: SS24.2.3
Practice record: Story: The Class Election, printed on the Week 7 Practice Workbook.
Worked example: In a vote, red got 7 votes and blue got 10. Which color won? Worked answer: Blue.
- Rosa (11 votes).
- One month.
- Each student wrote a name on a slip of paper and folded it before putting it in the box, so no one saw anyone else’s vote. This let everyone choose freely without pressure. Accept any answer describing the folded slips with a reason.
Teaching note: Independent check: read the story aloud if needed, but give no hints.
Sources
Alabama Secretary of State, Register to Vote (citizen, lives in Alabama, 18 on or before Election Day) | National Archives, Constitution: Amendments 11-27 (26th Amendment, 1971) | National Archives, The Constitution of the United States (terms of office)
Week 7 Student Textbook | Week 7 Practice Workbook | Week 7 Teacher Guide | Week 6 Student Textbook | Week 8 Student Textbook | Grade 2 index