This marking period in social studies, the students in Room 220 are exploring the structure and roles of the United States government. To launch the unit, we connected the topic to a familiar event—the recent Midland student government elections. Each year on November 4th, Midland School holds its presidential election, giving students the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate. Using photographs, the class reviewed the campaign speeches, the voting process, and the importance of student leadership. This year, Sadika Premkumar was elected president and will serve as a student leader for our school community.
In our follow-up lesson, students were introduced to key vocabulary and the responsibilities of a president. We began by listening to “Hail to the Chief” and discussing its significance as the ceremonial song honoring the President of the United States. Then, through the website Get Epic, students listened to Our Government: President by Kirsten Chang. The book provided a clear and engaging explanation of the president’s duties as the nation’s leader, helping students make connections between national leadership and their own school government.
Next, the class enjoyed a brain break by listening to the Yogapalooza “Thank You” song. Brain breaks give students the opportunity to rest, process new information, and recharge before continuing with learning activities. After the break, students participated in a yes/no question activity. Some students responded using their communication devices, while others used yes/no communication cards.
All teacher-created materials featured Roman Bubble–style lettering to support students with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), ensuring that the visuals were accessible and easy to interpret. To conclude the lesson, students completed a booklet using picture symbols that summarized the key information. These booklets were printed on yellow cardstock, another evidence-based accommodation to support learners with CVI.