Presidents-LaKea+Gaiter

The Informational Inquiry [|Lesson Plan.docx] is prepared is for 2nd and 5th grade students in a Social Studies classroom environment. The topic is on American Presidents (past, present, and current). The inquiry process used is Scaffolding, which can be explained in the [|Overview.docx] and lesson comparison. 

Additional idea for 12th grade lesson: available in .pdf - [|PresidentResponse.pdf]**

Lesson Plan: 12th Grade Social Studies **

** Overview: ** 12th grade students are keenly aware of politics and current events. They are approaching the age where they will be able to vote and will most likely vote in the next presidential election. Students will examine important milestones in President Obama’s career that led to his election as our current American President from which they will then formulate their own questions to research and present to the class in a format of their own choosing. Students will choose their research resources from the library; books, electronic databases, newspapers, magazines, web pages, or other resource.

Standards: ** Social Studies – USG.1.1: ** Define civic life, political life and private life and describe the activities of individuals in each of these spheres.
 * Social Studies – USG.2.6 ** Explain the importance for communities comprised of diverse individuals and groups to make a common commitment to fundamental principles and values of American democracy. (Core Standard)
 * English/Language Arts - 12.2.3: ** Verify and clarify facts presented in several types of expository texts by using a variety of public or historical documents, such as government, consumer, or workplace documents, and others. (Core Standard)

**Objective:** Students will read, listen, react, and respond to the election of President Obama and political and social issues from the election process. They will formulate ideas and opinions and government and how they will participate in the election process in 2012.

Procedure: **  1. The teacher will open a discussion about President Obama by reading excerpts from an important speech for example, the State of the Nation address to Congress, the Inaugural Address, or his acceptance speech in Chicago on November 4th, 2008.  2. Class discussion will cover key points from the speech read to the class.  3. The teacher will provide a list of some suggested books by Barack Obama. For Students:  4. The students will select a speech to read, or listen to a recording of a speech  5. Student’s will discuss the speech, and formulate questions they may want to find answers to. This could include the election, the election process, or a related topic.  6. Students will view //High School Research Paper Tips// video about research from [].  7. Students will research their topic and provide an outline of their questions, answers they found, and the source they found the answers or how they concluded their own answers.  8. Students will create and present a drawing, poster, slideshow, or multimedia project about President Obama’s life, education, career, or election. ** Assessment ** Students will be assessed on the quality of their research, choice of topic, creativity, accuracy of the information, completion and quality of the final project.
 * Materials:** computer with internet access, selected book/s from the Book Resource List below, guide to evaluation of resources for research.

**Handout: Resource List:** > //In His Own Words: BARACK OBAMA - THE AMERICAN PROMISE: The Speeches 2007 + 2008// by Barack Obama
 * //Change We Can Believe in: Barack Obama's Plan to Renew America's Promise, by Barack Obama//
 * //The Inaugural Address, 2009: Together with Abraham Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses and The Gettysburg Address and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance// by Barack Obama
 * //INSPIRE A NATION: Barack Obama's Most Electrifying Speeches from Day One of His Campaign Through His Inauguration (2009 edition)// by Barack Obama
 * //Yes, We Can! A Salute to Children from President Obama's Victory Speech// by Barack Obama
 * //President Barack Obama: Change Has Come To America. His Words - His Promises// by Barack Obama
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">//The Audacity of Hope,// by Barack Obama
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">//Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance,// by Barack Obama
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">//PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA - A New Chapter in AMERICAN HISTORY: His Words - His Promises - His Speeches 2007-2009,// by Barack Obama

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">**Other materials:**
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The Essential Barack Obama: The Grammy Award-Winning Recordings, by Barack Obama
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Hope, Change and History (Barack Obama's Greatest Speeches- including Inaugural Oath and Address) 2 Audio CD Set by Barack H. Obama