Activity 3 (2-3 class periods (40 minutes each))
This activity requires the student to take initiative and research Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan independently. The teacher should support the student with tips and feedback, but the student is mainly responsible for the legwork and final performance.
Objective:
Students will research Lincoln and Reagan using the provided kid-friendly
websites.
Students
will act out an interview pretending to be either Lincoln or Reagan (they could
also perform the interviews in front of other classes).
Materials
Introduction: Set the scene for the kids...they have been chosen to perform as the presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan in honor of celebrating Illinois history. Their job is to research each of these men and choose one they would like to reenact.
www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents
www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi//aa/presidents
www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/presday.html
Procedure: Working in partners or independently use the Student Research Pages and websites listed above to research Reagan and Lincoln. Once they have gathered the information, they must choose one president they would like to pretend to be. They must study that president's personal history so that they are able to put themselves in the president's shoes when interview time comes. (Giving them time in class to rehearse would be helpful.)
Assessment: Have a day where the kids can come to school in costume as either Lincoln or Reagan. Video tape or sound record interviews with the "mock presidents" using the same questions the students researched. Grades will be awarded based upon how accurately the student responded to the interview questions. If some students would like to perform as the presidents for other grade levels, extra credit could be awarded.