Letterland Presidential Campaign

Published on Thu 22 Dec 2011

Children love to think of Letterland as real. Teachers enjoy pretending with them that it’s real, too – especially when it affords them new ways to connect their Letterland learning with the real world. This November Gamewell Elementary School in Caldwell County, North Carolina found an exciting way to do just that. Prompted by a local Election, they decided that it was time to hold an election for President in Letterland.

So the Kindergarteners learned about nominating candidates by choosing some. Their choices: Harry Hat Man, Sammy Snake, Peter Puppy, Golden Girl,Talking Tess, Kicking King and Annie Apple. And then the campaign began! Principal Vickie Sproul campaigned as Annie Apple, the Assistant Principal as Talking Tess, various other teachers dressed up and impersonated the other candidates, including one teacher’s daughter who was Golden Girl. AND Superintendent Steve Stone, as Harry Hat Man, all campaigned on TV (actually Skype video’d).

So when the campaigning was over, and the votes were counted, who had won? Gamewell Elementary School staff’s report sets out the details. Principal Vickie Sproul’s final comment: “It was a day the children will never forget!”

Read more in the full report.

Lyn Wendon, originator of Letterland, had this comment:

"I love the way Vickie Sproul and her staff explored the potentials of parallel thinking when they decided to stage a mock Letterland election. The children knew it was all pretend, but also knew that it was real too, just as the Letterland lore is both fiction and real facts made memorable by the fictions. This parallel thinking fosters cognitive flexibility, putting a creative edge on their learning.

So congratulations to all those involved in coming up with the mock election idea, turning it into a reality, and making it work so well!"