Inauguration Day
Every four years on January 20, an important event occurs in the United States: A president takes the Oath of Office during an inauguration ceremony. On this page, Education World offers lessons and activities to help students learn about and commemorate this year's inauguration.
INAUGURATION DAY LESSON IDEAS
Dear Mr. President
Students write letters to the new president, including goals they would like to see achieved in the new administration and good wishes to the president and his family. (Grade K-8)
Portrait of the President
Students use current photographs to create portraits of the new president. (Grade K-5)
Inauguration Firsts Trivia Hunt
Students find fascinating firsts and facts about past U.S. presidential inaugurations and answer questions about what they learn. (Grades 6-12)
Inaugural Weather in History
Students learn fascinating facts about weather conditions during past U.S. presidential inaugurations and complete a work sheet based on the information. (Grades 6-12)
Comparing Inaugural Addresses
Students compare and contrast inaugural addresses of past presidents of the United States. (Grades 6-12)
Inaugural Poetry
Students compare and contrast the poems that Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, and Miller Williams wrote and read at past inaugurations. (Grades 6-12)
Inaugural Pennant
Students study pennants designed for previous inaugurations and design souvenir pennants for the 2001 inauguration. (Grades 3-8)
'I Do Solemnly Swear'
Students complete a vocabulary work sheet about the Oath of Office. (Grades 6-12)
Inauguration Interview
Students develop questions that a reporter might ask during an interview with the new president. (Grades K-12)
The Inauguration and the Media
Students track media coverage of the presidential inauguration in various types of media -- television, print, and online. (Grades 6-12)
Inauguration Graph: How Old Were They?
Students graph the presidents' ages at inauguration. Who was the youngest president? the oldest? (Grades K-8)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Inaugural Sites to See
The best sites on the Web for teaching about the inauguration.
President Information Sheet
Encourage students to learn about the accomplishments of past presidents.
Virtual D.C.
Sue Bailey's virtual travelers use technology to travel to Washington D.C.
Hail to the Chief: Lessons From the Presidential Libraries
Online resources you can use to teach about U.S. presidents.
Reader's Theater
U.S. presidents "chat" about the most important qualities in a president.
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