Entry 2 Presidential Biographies

Presidential Biographies

Thomas Jefferson’s Vice President was in a duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804. The duel was not the only interesting historical event to unfold during Jefferson’s presidency.  The Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and repeal of the law that caused the Whiskey Rebellion are just a few interesting events from our third president’s term in office.  Our first president, George Washington, never got to live in the White House.  John Adams, our second president and the first Vice President, helped draft the Declaration of independence and was the first president to live in the White House. (His wife used to hang her laundry to dry in the East Room!) James Madison was our fourth president and his term saw the War of 1812, also known as the Second Revolutionary War. James Monroe led our country as our fifth president during what was known as the Era of Good Feelings. It was also during his term in office that the fateful Missouri Compromise was passed.   (Content)

Students will read biographies of the first five presidents from the school library.  They will note and share important events from each biography. DOK1 We will discuss what elements are present in biographies (important dates, major events, anecdotal information, etc.) and how we could go about writing a biography. We will discuss the fact that presidents are not the only people to experience interesting events in their lives. DOK2 The class will prepare to interview 4 volunteer grandparents to write biographies about their lives by creating a series of questions to use for group interviews. DOK3 Students will be guided to create such questions as: When/where were you born?  Where did you grow up?  What was it like when you were a child?  Where did you go to school? How are things different now from when you were a child?  What did you do for fun?  What important historical events have happened in your life? What have been some important personal events (i.e. travel, wedding, birth of a child)?  Are there any personal achievements in which you take particular pride?  Students will work in small group.  Each group will be interviewing one grandparent.  Each student will be responsible for asking and recording the answer to at least one question. DOK4  All group members should record each answer that is given by their group’s interviewee.  After the interview, each group will use the notes taken from the interviewee’s answers to compile a biography as a group. (Creative Activity)

PA Common Core Standards: CC.1.2.2.A,CC.1.2.2.B,CC.1.2.2.E,CC.1.2.2.L,CC1.4.2.ACC1.4.2.BCC1.4.2.C,CC1.4.2.D,CC1.4.2.F,CC.      1.4.2.O,CC1.4.2.P,CC.1.4.2.T,CC1.4.2.V,CC1.4.2.W,CC1.5.2.A,CC.1.5.2.BCC1.5.2.C

Domain 1a, 1b, 2a,2b,2c,2d,3a,3b,3c,3d,3e,4c