Third graders elect class leaders while studying government

Mrs. Watson's third-grade class at Coal City Elementary School has been studying government as part of their social studies curriculum. As a practical exercise, the students elected a class president and vice president.

"We had about 15 candidates. Each candidate gave a speech and presented a campaign poster to the class, then we voted," Mrs. Watson explained.

The elected student leaders will serve until the end of the school year. Their responsibilities include representing their classmates and generating ideas to improve both their classroom and Coal City Elementary School.

"Meanwhile, we have also been learning about U.S. Presidents. We are currently doing a research project on a president and are in the process of making posters to display in the hallway. We have learned so much about the executive branch," Mrs. Watson added.