Teaching Those Who Cannot Vote

November 3, 2008 ·For many people part of turning eighteen means they can do things they never could before: like register to vote.  And for the youngest part of our population being unable to vote in a high profile election could seem disenfranchising.  But, Jennifer Allen aims to change that feeling with her project, Ameriquest Kids.

"It's a social studies curriculum tool, essentially, geared towards younger Americans with the primary mission of establishing their rights and privileges as Americans."

Allen says the fact that the lessons are approved by the National Council of Social Studies and the state's standardized testing agencies, means teachers are really into it.

"Teachers love it because this engages children and it really brings it to life and teachers are saying hey this really works," Allen says.

This 3D animation tool includes lesson plans with quizzes and transparencies and an online component so teachers can expand the lesson for what suits them and what keeps the kids' attention when learning about the political process.

"While that sounds dry, it's not because in the episodes the kids are going on these adventures, they don't even realize that they're learning."

It took five years and much of her own personal financing to put out the first episode, called "Your Right to Vote".  But now it's being used in North East Independent School District as well as San Antonio Independent School District, among others. She's very proud of the fact that the project is a compilation of talent that can be found right here in San Antonio, from the animators to the vocal talent.   Allen says they have a tight crew and an even tighter budget, but the turn-around is top notch.

"To give you an idea: Dora the Explorer, it's a 12-month process.  Now, they might be working on two or three episodes at a time, but the animation is a long process.  To pull that into perspective, the timeframe on Ameriquest Kids, the same length of an episode of Ameriquest Kids, we have it down where we can do it in sixteen weeks."

Allen says the inspiration behind the 30-minute cartoon episodes and curriculum came from her own children, Sam and Charlie. 

"Sam and Charlie were on either side of the play map on the floor and said, Hey Let's pretend and Jump into the map, and from then we just kind of worked on this as a family and this has just been a wonderful journey."

Her older son, Sam, inspires her even further. Sam has a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome, which entails a limited social circle, but keen technical abilities, much like his character in the show he can show off his tech-savvy skills.  Allen plans to use this unique aspect of Sam's real-life personality in his cartoon-self, to teach kids about being different.

"Sam's character on Ameriquest Kids is high tech, he's the one that's tech-savvy; we'll find out that he has asbergers as well.  Put it on a kid's level they'll think hey that kid next to me might have their own qualities."

Future episodes include lessons on disabilities, liberty, the constitution and the bill of rights. 

So far she says, the community has made it really easy to get access to footage for these episodes. 

"Jacque Callanen, our own Bexar County Elections Administor set up a whole mock election and let us bring the cameras in so you see a mini-documentary in Your Right to Vote."

Allen has 13 episodes laid out with the next one already in production, titled: "Why We Serve: Understanding the Branches of the Military."

The expected release date is January 15.  Currently, Ameriquest Kids Episode One: "Your Right to Vote", can be seen on Time Warner's Education on Demand channel with free games online.