National First Ladies' Library
Capital Monuments: Exploring Washington, DC Frances Cleveland: Law, Politics and Government
Students, working in small groups, research seven of the most famous monuments found in Washington, DC. They design brochures based on the information they gather from Internet and print resources. Upon completion, they share the...
Curated OER
The Statue of Liberty: The Meaning and Use of a National Symbol
Engage your class in a series of activities, each related to the use or analysis of symbols used to convey patriotic or national concepts. They identify different national symbols and explain their meanings, discussing the importance of...
Curated OER
New $1 Coins Honor U.S. Presidents
Elementary schoolers examine money, then read a news article about new coins being produced by the U.S. Mint. The teacher introduces the article with samples of American money and a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece...
Curated OER
Baseball Anyone
Students explore the change in values from the 1920's to the present. In groups, students use the internet to analyze Pete Rose and gambling in sports. The 1919 scandal of the World Series is explored and discussed by students. They...
Curated OER
How We Vote
Students fill in a graphic organizer and discuss the struggles in groups about the history of voting in Louisiana. Students also explore a voting timeline to see who could and could not vote before and after 1850.
National First Ladies' Library
Workers, Take a Holiday! the Beginning of Labor Day
When your upper elementary class returns in the fall, have them identify and define the beginnings of the labor movement and Labor Day in the United States. They thoughtfully reflect on changes that have occurred in the way we think...
National First Ladies' Library
Language Arts: The Rise of the Operetta
Pupils develop an appreciation for the musical theater form, the operetta. In addition, they present parodies of songs from The Mikado. Working in small groups and accessing provided Websites, they compose their parodies. Once completed,...
Curated OER
The Many Powers of the President
Students become familiar with the many roles of the president. They are given various scenarios. They must decide which of his "hats" he must wear given the specifics of each situation.
National First Ladies' Library
Stories from the Thousand and One Nights
Students hold a Thousand and One Nights storytelling festival with each one memorizing a story to relate to classmates. While examining provided resource links, they select and practice a story they would like to retell. As a dress...
Curated OER
The Leadership and Impact of Booker T. Washington
Twelfth graders explore the life and leadership of Booker T. Washington. For this Booker T. Washington lesson, 12th graders examine images of Washington, listen to audio of his voice, and his most famous speech. Students wrote responses...
Curated OER
Why a President? Why not a King?
Students research how and why a country elects to have an executive branch of the government. They study the office of the Presidency of the US.
Curated OER
Closest Presidential Race Ever. . . Or Is It?
High schoolers examine the presidential election of 2000. In this American history lesson, students listen to their instructor lecture on the details of the 2000 election. High schoolers respond to discussion questions and participate in...
Curated OER
Women’s Suffrage
Students examine several aspects of the Women's Suffrage Movement. In this women's rights lesson, students explore several primary and secondary sources regarding the events of the movement, opposition to the movement, and the effects of...
National First Ladies' Library
"Lockwood for President!" Belva Ann, Who?
Students examine the life of Belva Ann Lockwood. They see her life through the creation of a set of "news" articles on her admission to practice law before the Supreme Court in 1879 and her nomination for the presidency in 1884.
Curated OER
Using Primary Sources: Letters from the Presidents
Students research the life of a president by reading personal letters on the American Presidents web site, and explore the ways that the character and personality of the president affected the ways they handled historical events.
Curated OER
Paths to the Presidency
Seventh graders investigate a timeline of the career paths that US presidents took before they became the president. They how these career choices prepared these men for the presidency.
Curated OER
Poetry and the American Presidents
Fifth graders choose a poetry activity in order to focus their research about American presidents.
Curated OER
President Notebook
Students make presidential notebooks which they add to throughout the year. They arrange information about each president into an informational chapter.