Nebraska’s Kid Governor®
This award-winning civics program for fifth graders is coming to Nebraska in 2025!
This groundbreaking approach immerses fifth-grade students from across Nebraska in real campaigns and elections. Free, innovative Nebraska-specific lesson plans and resources guide teachers through the program and create opportunities for students to explore state government and active participation in civic life at every level.
Kid Governor® empowers fifth graders to change the world.
This groundbreaking approach to civics education immerses students in a real election for their state’s Kid Governor®, a fellow fifth grader who will represent them during a one-year term of active leadership. All fifth-grade classes and homeschool programs are welcome to participate.
The program is more than a contest and is not just about the position of governor – students learn important lessons about state government, voting, elections, and civic participation.
Timed to coincide with Election Day in November, this annual program provides fifth graders the experience of nominating one student candidate from their school and voting in an authentic statewide election.
Classes can vote in the election, nominate a student to run for office, or both. Free, innovative, and state-specific lesson plans and digital resources guide teachers through the program and help students explore state government and active participation in civic life.
Participants identify issues affecting their community and state, research solutions, create platforms to address those issues, and make campaign videos. Schools run primaries to select a nominee and each school’s winner advances to the state level.
In November, fifth graders watch and evaluate the campaign videos of their state’s seven final candidates. They then participate in a real election, casting their votes for the student and platform they support. The student who receives the most votes is elected Kid Governor® and the six finalists become their Cabinet.
There are over 26,000 Nebraska children in fifth grade. The Nebraska Department of Education Social Studies Standards describe the knowledge and skills that students should learn, but they do not prescribe particular curriculum, lessons, teaching techniques, or activities. Fifth-grade social studies standards include forms and functions of government and civic engagement.
A report published by the University of Nebraska at Omaha revealed that:
›› Only 10% of elementary teachers felt their social studies content completely aligned with standards.
›› Teachers may struggle to access adequate resources to support social studies instruction.
›› Elementary teachers feel less prepared to teach social studies than middle and high school teachers.
›› Only 9% of elementary teachers reported participating in social studies professional development within the last three years.
Nebraska’s Kid Governor® – and their Cabinet – will be elected in November 2025!
To learn how your school’s fifth graders can participate, contact Lena Wimes, Youth Civic Leadership Program Manager, at le********@ci***********.org or 402-904-5181.
