In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, educators are looking for ways to address students' anxieties, build the classroom and school community, counter bias and harassment, and address political issues raised by the election. Below is a collection of activities and teaching ideas from the TeachableMoment section of our website that may be helpful.
Activities specifically about the election
Planning for Your & Your Students’ Care This Election Season
This week and the post-election period will likely be an emotionally charged time for you and your students. It is crucial to collectively name and acknowledge this. We offer the following activities to support you and your school community in intentionally reflecting on how you will take care of yourselves and each other during this time and beyond.
Election Emotions: Sharing & Community-Building
In this activity, students share their feelings about the election, have a listening circle, and then participate in a community-building activity.
9 Guidelines for Addressing Election Anxiety
Nine suggestions for supporting students and strengthening your classroom community in these challenging times.
Helpful strategies & guidelines
Listening Circles
When upsetting events happen in the world, they arouse strong feelings in many of us - sadness, anger, fear, confusion, worry. We tend to carry these feelings around with us through the day, at work or at school.
3 Quiet Minutes
Consider giving students a few moments of silence and calm by asking them to focus on an object. If students respond positively to the experience, repeat it.
Two Quick Techniques for Calming Down
These practices can help both young people and adults stay grounded when anxiety arises.
SEL Tip: Physiological Sigh
In this two-minute video, staff developer Iris Laurencio demonstrates a breathing technique that can help both young people and adults reduce stress on the spot.
Teaching about Controversial or Difficult Issues
10 suggestions for upsetting issues in the news in constructive, thoughtful and sensitive ways.
Microlab for Exploring Tough Issues
Well-structured small-group discussion can help students discuss issues of the day that concern them.
See additional activities on handling difficult issues on TeachableMoment.
Self and community care
How Can We Care for Each Other?
In this small-group activity, middle school students learn more about how we are interconnected and explore ways to practice community care in their school communities and beyond.
How to Create a Culture of Care in Schools – and Why
Dionne Grayman and Nicole LaVonne Smith-Johnson
It takes time and patience and attention. It takes a coalition of the willing, purveyors of hope, and believers.
Self-Care for Educators & Caregivers
Self-care is key. We can’t be available for our children if we don’t have the energy or bandwidth ourselves. For this reason we’ve pulled together our resources at Morningside Center for you to have at your fingertips: 11 ways to best take care of yourself.
Activities to counter bias, harassment and stereotyping
Countering Anti-Muslim & Anti-Arab Bias in School
These general guidelines are aimed at helping to make our schools safe and supportive environments for youngsters with these backgrounds; and to prevent and counter expressions of bias against these groups in any school.
Interrupting Oppressive Behavior
What to do when students make hurtful remarks - or worse? Eight tips on what to do when students make hurtful remarks.
Exploring Stereotypes: First Thoughts
Ask the class, “What do we mean by ‘stereotype’?” Elicit that a stereotype is a general statement about a group of people based on incomplete information.