“Elections of the Biggest Little Ones” (Eleições dos Pequenos Grandes)

Activity that enabled the recreation of a formal setting of a voting process, with children attending the fourth grade, in order for them to have their first real approach to this particular process. The Mayor’s advisers were invited to explain some topics and their meanings to the children, namely the concept of abstention, invalid ballot, representative democracy, participation, the City Town Hall duties and rights, the citizens’ role, etc. In the plenary that followed, the children were heard regarding their opinions on Democracy and topics previously discussed, and took part in an election process, in a simulated real voting process, using real voting ballot boxes and cabins, and being also explained the importance of the participation of all of the involved children. Afterwards, the resulting winning activity was carried out.