Subjects
Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
Social Studies
--Civics
--Current Events
--Geography
--Government
--History
----U.S. History
Grades
Grades 2-up
News Content
After Barack Obama was elected president, kids campaigned successfully to have their school renamed.
Anticipation Guide
Write Hempstead, New York on a board or chart. On a map, identify the location of Hempstead. It is located on Long Island (Nassau County), about 25 miles east of New York City. If you teach older students, challenge them to use the map key to determine how far Hempstead is from their community.
News Words
Introduce these words that appear in the News Word Box on the students printable page: campaign, essay, represents, diverse, mock, and unveiled. Discuss the meanings of any of those words that might be unfamiliar. Then ask students to use one of those words to complete each of these sentences:
Read the News
Click for a printable version of this weeks news story Kids Get School Named for Obama.
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More Facts to Share
You might share these additional facts with students after they have read this weeks news story.
Whereas the Ludlum School students conducted a mock presidential debate related to the recent presidential elections and
Whereas the students did a wonderful job of carrying out their tasks and demonstrating their patriotism at an early age and
Whereas in recognition of their efforts and the victorious feat of Sen. Barack Obama in becoming the first African-American president of the United States,
it be resolved that the Hempstead Board of Education proudly renames Ludlum Elementary School as the Barack Obama Elementary School."
Comprehension Check
Recalling Detail
Follow-Up Activities
Language arts critical thinking. Challenge students to respond in writing to the Think About the News question on their printed news story page. If you would like to pose an alternative thinking question, you might ask this question: Some people say that we should not name schools, streets, and other things for Barack Obama until we see what he accomplishes as president. Others say he has already accomplished a great deal by becoming the first African-American to be elected president. What do you think? Are these recognitions well deserved, or is it too early to honor Obama in this way?
History. All your students are aware that Barack Obama made history by being the first African-American to be elected president of the United States. Share with students some of these other African-American Firsts (alternate source), some of which might bring up unfamiliar names. Challenge each student to learn more about one of these famous African-Americans. Set aside time for students to share what they learn. Extension activity: Create a timeline of African-American firsts.
Spelling. A quick and fun activity: Write the name BARACK OBAMA on a board or chart. Give students 5-10 minutes to write all the words they can spell using the letters in Obamas name. Words that students offer might include abba, am, arc, ark, arm, aroma, ba, baa, back, bam, bar, barb, bark, boa, boar, bob, bomb, bra, cab, cam, car, caramba, carb, cob, cobra, coma, comb, cork, crab, cram, croak, kabob, karma, ma, macro, mako, mar, maraca, mark, mob, mock, oak, oar, okra, orb, orca, rack, ram, roam, rob, rock, and rom. Variation: If you teach younger students, you might make the task a bit easier by letting them use the letters in the words BARACK OBAMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
Assessment
Use the Comprehension Check (above) as an assessment. Or have students work on their own (in their journals) or in their small groups to respond to the Think About the News questions on the news story page or in the Follow-Up Activities section.
Lesson Plan Source
Education WorldNational Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledge
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.11 Participating in Society
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Civics
GRADES K - 4
NSS-C.K-4.2 Values and Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.K-4.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.K-4.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-C.5-8.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.5-8.2 Foundations of the American Political System
NSS-C.5-8.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 9 - 12
NSS-C.9-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.9-12.2 Foundations of the Political System
NSS-C.9-12.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.9-12.5 Roles of the Citizen
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
SOCIAL SCIENCES: U.S. History
GRADES K - 4
NSS-USH.K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the People from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage
GRADES 5 - 12
NSS-USH.5-12.10 Era 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the Present)
See recent news stories in Education Worlds News Story of the Week Archive.
Article by Ellen Delisio and Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2008 Education World
12/17/2008