Majority Rules

Goal: Use percents in a group vote

1. Introduce the voting process

Choose a yes-or-no question for the group vote, such as :

“Should we play basketball today?”

Explain how the group will decide:

• When you first do this activity, require a simple majority: The group will do what at least 50% want.
• For more challenge, require complete or near-complete agreement: The group will go with whatever at least 90% choose.

 

2. Vote

Use show of hands or private ballot. Designate one or two children to keep track of the number of votes for each choice and the total.

 

3. Tally the responses

If exactly 50% voted for each choice, children debate the options and vote again.

When using 90%, remind the group that if at least 90% choose one option, 10% or fewer have voted for the other option. See the Math Spotlight for ideas on comparing votes to 10%.

If no choice received at least 90% of the votes, children debate the options and vote again.

Variations

Change the Majority (Grades 5, 6, 7)
After the vote, children go with whatever at least 75% (or a different percent) choose.

 

90 Percent Attendance (Grades 5, 6, 7)
Children keep track of attendance at the program each day or week, and determine whether at least 90% are present.

 

Majorities and Minorities (Grades 5, 6, 7)
Children look online or in the library to gather information on the population makeup of their neighborhood, community, or city. They look for statistics on country of birth, age range, or gender. What is the percentage of people in each category? They create a poster or presentation to share their findings.

Books and Other Resources

Kids Voting USA (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
For ideas on involving children in community issues and decisions see www.kidsvotingusa.org

If You Had to CHoose, What Would You Do? (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Humphrey, Sandra McLeod. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 1995.

Spotlight

Working with 10%

Here are two ways to find out if an amount is more than, less than, or equal to 10%.

Example:

If 3 out of 30 voted "no," that would be exactly 10% (1 out of 10 is 10%, 2 out of 20 is 10%, and 3 out of 30 is 10%)

3 of any group LESS than 30 is a bigger percentage than 10%.  So, 3 out of 17 is less than 10%.

Connections

Sales and Discounts

Discounts of 10% and its multiples (20%, 30%, etc.) are common. Being able to find 10% in your head can come in handy. Just move the decimal point one place to the left:

10% of $10.00 is $1.00
10% of $10.50 is $1.05
10% of $3.00 is $0.30 (30¢)
10% of $3.50 is $0.35 (35¢)

You can use 10% to find other percents:

20% is double 10%
5% is half of 10%

 

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