Teaching Notes

Investigate this photo to look for clues about this president.

• What can you learn directly from what you see?
• What can you infer about what you see?
• What evidence in the photo can you point to that backs up your inferences?

Teaching Notes

Although students might recognize this president, show this image to students without identifying who he is. Instead, ask the following:

• What impression of this president do you get by looking at this photo he sat for before his inauguration.
• What details in the photo do you think contributed to the way you think/feel about it?

Teaching Notes

Look carefully at this word cloud made from the text of President Barack Obama's first inaugural address. Based on the words you see, jot down 2-3 phrases that describe some of the main ideas you think he addressed in his speech.

Teaching Notes

Click the link to dig into this source.

1. Scan the complete text of this document to understand what the inaugural proceedings consist of. Make an outline so that someone else could quickly understood the main events and the order in which they took place.
2. Who provided the introduction for the inauguration? Note one interesting thing you learned about the ceremony from this person's remarks. 
3. Who spoke next? Note one important thing this person wished for the new president and one important thing this person advised that we, the American people, should do. Why did these two things strike you as being important?
4. After the oaths of office, the newly elected president gave his address. How close were your predictions from the word cloud? Read the speech and list the main points using bullet points. Then highlight one idea from the speech (1-3 sentences) that stood out to you. Be prepared to share why you chose that idea.
5. President John F. Kennedy was the first to have a poet recite a poem at the inauguration. Read the poem by the American poet, Elizabeth Alexander. Why do you think that this poem was chosen for the inauguration? What does the poem make you think and feel?
6. What are the last two parts of the inauguration? Do you think there was a fitting end to the inauguration? Give your response and briefly explain your reasoning.

Teaching Notes

After the inauguration, the newly sworn in President traditionally travels to the White House and observes the inaugural parade from a reviewing stand. How do you think the president and the first lady felt at this moment? 

Imagine how you might feel if you were elected president of the United States. What would you want to express in your inaugural address? Create a word cloud with some key words that you would use in your speech.