Teach Presidents' Day In a Socially Conscious Way With These Ideas

When Presidents' Twenty-four hour period rolls around, it's easy to reach for a standby lesson plan on Abe Lincoln's log cabin. But the holiday also presents an opportunity to become deeper and examine the traditional narratives surrounding past presidents. We know that presidents were non infallible historical characters, so here are some ways to continue it more honest for our students.

Ditch the traditional activities.

Typical Presidents' Solar day classroom activities include word searches, coloring pages, and mazes that help Teddy Roosevelt find his national park. These lessons fail to delve into who these presidents were as leaders, much less as people. When lessons are content-driven, they tend to focus on the "fun" stuff, like presidential nicknames, pets, or tales of childhood mischief. Consider engaging with presidential history at a deeper level by reading books about presidents , examining their speeches, and discussing their legacies.

Try this!Share "Andrew Jackson Revisited" with your students and invite them to consider how those facts contrast with his reputation equally a man of the people.

Avoid mythologizing past presidents.

In the classroom, we tend to rely on stories that put presidents on a pedestal. We portray Washington as the boy who could not tell a lie. In an era of imitation news, it's even more than vital to split fact from fiction. Real talk: George Washington never chopped downwards his father'due south cherry tree.

Try this!Have students fact-check popular stories about presidents. Did Lincoln really scribble the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope?

Teach uncomfortable truths.

Bluntly, information technology's irresponsible to teach American history exterior the context of slavery. The reality is that 12 U.Due south. presidents (that'south one in four) owned slaves, and eight of those held enslaved people while in part. Lincoln initially upheld slavery, stating, "I accept no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the establishment of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I take no inclination to practise then." His views evolved as it became clear that preserving the Union and maintaining the institution of slavery were mutually sectional.

Try this!Have students listen to poet Clint Smith Three's letter to past presidents who owned slaves.

Nowadays past presidents holistically.

It'south of import for students to see presidents as whole people. You tin can honor presidential accomplishments while still recognizing that the presidents themselves were imperfect. It'southward a "both/and" situation. A mettlesome and prudent leader, George Washington is rightly recognized every bit the Male parent of his Country. He also had mistresses and owned more than than 300 slaves. Franklin D. Roosevelt lifted the country out of the Smashing Low. Nonetheless, he also once tried to pack the Supreme Court to push through New Bargain legislation.

Try this! Read aloud Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything. It's a cracking volume that recognizes Jefferson as a remarkable, yet complicated man.

Encourage students to think critically.

When students stop thinking nigh presidents as perfect people, they're better able to expect at them objectively. Have them clarify primary source documents and formulate their own opinions near the successes, challenges, and characters of by presidents. As future voters and citizens, they'll demand those skills to evaluate the individuals who will lead this country in the future.

Try this!Read A Colored Man'southward Reminiscences of James Madison and have students depict conclusions about the 4th president.

How do y'all teach history in a socially witting way? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, check out our favorite Presidents' 24-hour interval activities for the classroom.

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Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/teach-presidents-day/

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