Traveling Caravan Entry #3
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Topic: How the
style has changed since our First President George Washington . . .
This
lesson is coming from Joy Hakim’s book Chapter 2: About Being President (pp. 20 – 23). On April 30, 1789 George Washington
gave the absolute very first inaugural speech here in the new country of
America. This lesson will start
out with the following questions:
Who was the first
President of the United States?
What do you think the
first President of the United States would have worn?
When did he become
the first President of the United States?
Where did he give his
inaugural speech?
How did he arrive for
his inaugural speech? In what type
of transportation.
Before the students and I discuss any of the questions above
students must write an answer down for each question.
(Content)
(DOK1)
Pictures will be shown of President
George Washington and our present day President Barack Obama in which students
will compare their clothing. From
the pictures discussions will arise about clothing. Washington wore velvet knee breeches, yellow gloves, silver
buckles on his shoes, and a sword on his waist (Hakim, 20). Obama wears a white shirt, tie, black
coat that is knee length, a pin on the coat, dress pants, black shoes without
any buckles, wears nothing around his waist, and no gloves.
Washington also "rode in a canary yellow carriage pulled by 6 white horses . . . whose hoofs were painted black and . . .their teeth whitened" (Hakim, p 20). Obama rides in a bulletin proof cadillac with high security surrounding him.
(Creative Activity) (DOK 2 & 3)
At the end of this activity the
students must draw and design an outfit they would like to wear if they were
just elected President of the United States back in the 1780’s and if they were
elected in 2013. (DOK 4)
All the other questions will be
answered from above. I will be
drawing more of the students attention to the apparel of Washington and
Obama and the mode of transportation.
Standards:
3.1.1.A5, A9; 3.1.1.B6; 3.2.1.A1, A3, A6
8.3.1.A, c; 8.1.1.A, C
An interesting "then and now' comparison of presidents. This is a great start but I would challenge you to "go deeper" with your students (even though they are young)with a discussion on the character of presidents as well. Why were these presidents chosen? What did they say in their speeches? Again, noting that the students are young..they still understand kindness, courage,and truthfulness. Others have written on the character of presidents in their blogs...some good reads!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to point out WHERE each was inaugurated, so that your students learn that Washington DC wasn't always the nation's capital.
ReplyDeleteClothing is a good entryway. You could incorporate Lincoln as another well-known president to see how his clothing and speech compare.