Duck For President Election Activities for Kids
Looking for a fun and engaging way to tie literature with learning about elections? Our "Duck for President" STEM Activity brings Doreen Cronin's beloved character, Duck, into the classroom while introducing your students to important engineering principles and election concepts!
This hands-on project is designed to complement the popular children’s book Duck for President. While the book itself is not required to complete the activity, students who are familiar with Duck’s antics will be even more engaged in helping him as he runs for office. The activity focuses on problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork—skills vital for any future leader!
Duck for President Election Activities for Kids
After reading Duck for President, students are presented with a fun challenge: Design and build a podium for Duck! There’s just one problem—Duck can't see over the top of it! The students' mission is to use non-consumable materials like LEGO blocks, KEVA planks, or other building tools to create a podium that is sturdy, balanced, and at the perfect height for Duck to give his speeches.
Simplifying Your Planning Process
This lesson is available on Teachers Pay Teachers. However, the best way to access this lesson is through the STEM Teachers Club Membership.
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Suggested Materials
Non-consumable building materials (LEGO, KEVA planks, Magna-Tiles, or similar items)
Duck printable
STEM challenge instruction sheet
Timer (optional)
Duck for President STEM Challenge Overview
Introduction and Story Time: Read or summarize Duck for President to your class.
Challenge Setup: Introduce the problem: Duck needs a podium to give speeches, but it must be the right height for him to see his audience.
Planning Phase: Give students 10 minutes to brainstorm and plan their podium design.
Building Time: Set a 20-minute timer and let the building begin! Students will work individually or in small teams to create their podiums using the materials available.
Testing: Once the time is up, test each podium by placing a Duck figure behind it. Can Duck see his audience?
Redesign and Improve: Allow time for students to make any necessary improvements based on the initial testing.
Sharing: Students present their final designs to the class, explaining the decisions behind their creations.
Lesson Extension: Design A Campaign Button
Want to take the activity further? Extend the lesson by introducing a campaign button design activity. Teach students about the history of campaign buttons and let them design their own to show support for Duck’s presidential run. This is a great way to add an artistic element to the STEM challenge!
While this resource is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, the Carly and Adam STEM Teachers Club Membership offers the best value for educators. With this membership, teachers gain unlimited access to Carly and Adam's extensive library of STEM resources, including ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, and challenges including the Duck for President STEM Activity.
Not only does this activity engage students with a beloved literary character, but it also introduces them to critical thinking, engineering, and teamwork. The challenge allows for creativity while encouraging perseverance—essential traits for future problem solvers.
Ready to give it a try? Grab your materials and let the "Duck for President" STEM challenge inspire the next generation of builders, thinkers, and leaders!
*This resource can also be purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers, but the STEM Teachers Club Membership is the Best Deal.
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