Hoover students campaign for 'candy-dates' in mock election

Third-grade students at Hoover Math and Science Academy have spent the past month or so learning about the election process by working on campaigns for chocolate bar "candy-dates".

Each class held a primary election during their library time in mid-October to select their top two candy-dates, after which students were organized into "candy parties" and given different jobs to promote their candy bar. Students worked in campaign headquarters - the library - comparing and contrasting their class's two candy-dates, writing persuasive speeches, researching facts and creating slogans, and designing buttons and posters.

Each class will discuss both of their candy-dates and hold an election prior to Thanksgiving complete with "I Voted" stickers, which were also distributed after the class "primaries" in October.

"My goal was to teach third grade students the election process in a way they would understand and have fun," said Learning Resource Teacher Susan Nottoli.