Election Day provides one of the most authentic learning opportunities of the year.
But what if it wasn’t just a single Tuesday in November?
What if Election Day were every Tuesday, all year round?
Through iCivics, I discovered On Tuesday We Vote, a biweekly initiative that invites students to engage with a thought-provoking question. Every other Tuesday, a new topic is presented for students to consider and cast their votes. I loved the approach of making civic participation a regular part of school life. So for the Civic Star Challenge, I decided to expand it beyond my classroom. By moving it into the hallway, all students, teachers, and staff members can take part.
My goal was to make voting and dialogue visible, accessible, and even routine. Civic education should be more than a class—it should be part of the culture of a school.
Between class periods, I loved watching students stop, talk about the topic with a friend, and then cast their votes. Some recent ballot measures included:
But that kind of result actually excites me as a civics educator. I spotted a group of ninth grade boys who had left lunch early to vote and were asking each other what the Electoral College was. I pulled out an electoral college map and explained it to them—yes, I’ll admit it was a hallway impromptu lecture! Seeing them interact with the content and each other, and then make up their own minds, was so unexpectedly fun. Now, all of the boys vote weekly and stop to say hi to me.
And perhaps the most contentious of all:
Is pineapple an acceptable pizza topping?
As of writing this post, I don’t have the official vote total. But I’ll say that my informal exit poll suggests that pineapple is on the way out!
It’s incredibly rewarding to witness civic confidence develop in real time. Students who were once hesitant to share their opinions are now leading discussions, listening thoughtfully, and even bringing in outside sources to support their views. Watching them evolve from passive observers into active participants is the most gratifying part of teaching civics. It’s also great to see friends voting differently and yet still being friends. Whether the subject is term limits or pizza toppings, these discussions are a starting point for creating a more civil society.
About Jennifer
- Teaching experience: 30 years
- Currently teaching: AP U.S. Government and Politics
In addition to her long-standing work as a public school teacher in Pittsburgh, Jennifer also serves as a College Board Table Leader and Retro Report Teacher Ambassador, and is a member of the National Constitution Center’s Teacher Advisory Council.
