Spotlight on the Presidential Inauguration
Spotlight on the Presidential Inauguration
“I ... do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” ~ The Presidential Oath of Office
The Presidential Inauguration represents a significant moment in history, as it has done throughout the years, a transfer of power intended to keep our democracy running smoothly. As January 20th quickly approaches, many classrooms across the country are pondering the importance of this event, taking into deep consideration the rigorous election cycle that preceded it. However, educators are rising to the challenge of providing students with a deep and meaningful civic education that teaches students how to think and analyze different perspectives in order to be able to build educated opinions of their own.
The resources below have been curated to provide you with engaging and rich content to design meaningful student tasks that strengthen historical thinking skills through the use of primary sources. We have also provided articles and tools for facilitating difficult political conversations in the classroom.
Official Site of the Presidential Inauguration: https://www.usa.gov/inauguration-2017
Looking for resources on teaching the election process? Check out these resources!
Articles
Fostering Civil Discourse: A Guide for Classroom Conversation
"Many opinions on the new president out there; therefore, it is important to establish points of civil discourse so people can express themselves without further divisions. This guide from Facing History gives teachers pointers to help students learn the values of civil discourse."
(Re)Building Classroom Community Post-Election
http://facingtoday.facinghistory.org/rebuilding-classroom-community-post-election
This Blog Post from Facing History also provides strategies and ideas to help students through the post-election process.
What to Say to Kids on November 10th and the Days After
http://www.tolerance.org/blog/what-say-kids-november-10-and-days-after
Maureen Costello, Director of Teaching Tolerance, highlights some points and realities students must consider with the inauguration of a new president in 2017.
How Educators Can Get Ready for Inauguration Day at School
http://www.glsen.org/blog/how-educators-can-get-ready-inauguration-day-school
This article reinforces the importance of “providing space for conversations around the power of words, teaching actively about what kindness looks like in the classroom, and intervening when students need to feel protected and safe.”
Instructional Resources
“I Do Solemnly Swear...” Inaugural Materials from the Collections of the Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/inaugural/exhibition.html
"A special installation within the American Treasures exhibition presents more than forty of these items including photographs, manuscripts, campaign posters, letters, broadsides, and inaugural speeches. This unique selection of items offers a glimpse into the history of American presidential inaugurations."
Presidential Inaugurations: I Do Solemnly Swear
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/presidential-inaugurations-i-do-solemnly-swear
“Presidential inaugurations have been solemn ceremonies and uninhibited celebrations, carefully scripted and at the same time unpredictable. Help your students reflect on what the Presidential inauguration has become and what it has been, while they meet a host of memorable historical figures and uncover a sense of America's past through archival materials.”
Historical Inauguration Speeches
https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B247883C1EB850D1
"CSPAN Highlights Presidential Inauguration Speeches. Watch videos of ten inauguration speeches from 1933 (FDR) to 2001 (G.W. Bush)"
Inaugural Words: 1789 to the Present (2009)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/17/washington/20090117_ADDRESSES.html
“This New York Times resource examines the language of presidential inaugural addresses. The most-used words in each address appear, sized by number of uses. Words highlighted in yellow were used significantly more in this inaugural address than average.”
White House Inauguration Celebration Kit
http://ourwhitehouse.org/white-house-inauguration-celebration-kit/
“The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance has created this Inauguration Celebration Kit to assist all adults who live and work with young people to engage with our kids in informed discussions about the presidency and American government, teach them to think critically, and energize them to learn more about the political process in America—using the presidency and inauguration as the focus.”
Inaugural Poetry
https://www.teachervision.com/poetry/inaugural-poetry
"This lesson plan looks at the times poetry has been used at Presidential inaugurations to help students understand the inauguration and the values in American identity."
Interactive Games
Executive Command
https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
This interactive game from our local edtech company, iCivics, has allows students to be president! "Try to accomplish what you set as your agenda while facing the challenges and responsibilities that crop up along the way!"
Place-Based Learning
John F. Kennedy Library & Museum
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/School-Visits.aspx
"Bring your students to the Library for guided, interactive programs that enrich classroom studies in American history, civics and language arts, and explore the events and issues of the early 1960s."
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
https://www.emkinstitute.org/explore-the-institute/dynamic-educational-experiences
"The Edward M. Kennedy Institute offers interactive tech-based educational programs, including the experiential Senate Immersion Module (SIM) for middle and high school students."
Commonwealth Museum
http://www.commonwealthmuseum.org/
"The collections of the Massachusetts Archives document the history of Massachusetts, from its colonial beginnings to the present day. Included among these collections are some of our nation’s most important historical treasures, foundation documents of both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the new United States."