. . . Inauguration Day Ideas

PDF downloads

Presidential Inauguration Quiz

Predict the weather on inauguration day

Inaugural Program

The White House Historical Association has a great web site with lots of information about presidential traditions, transitions and inaugurations. Look at the lesson plans for grades 4-8 and 9-12. Includes activities on “First Kids, ” “First Ladies,” “American Art in the White House,” “Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Address” (you can see the handwritten speech online), “Musical Performances in the White House,” and several lessons on “Presidential Transitions: The Torch is Passed.” Two of the offerings are highlighted below. (Grades 9-12) Presidential Transition Trivia and Tidbits   Transitional Traditions:  A student activity on researching presidential inaugurations.

I Do Solemnly Swear: Presidential Inaugurations. (Grades 3-5)

Library of Congress (Grades 3-5) The American Memory has a large feature on Inaugurations that includes 400 artifacts and 2,000 digital files from the first 54 presidential inaugurations, a video about inaugurations, and Learning Connections lesson plans.

(Grades 3-5) Inaugural Theater is a student-friendly interactive website that is a supplement to the American Memory site above with primary sources such as paintings of inaugurations and drafts of inaugural speeches with interesting background information and great questions to stimulate thinking.

(Grades 3-5) Chronicling America has newspapers from 10 states for the years 1880-1910 and includes an article, Headlining the Inauguration. You can download pdfs of two historic newspaper articles about presidential inaugurations at this site: The February 28, 1909 issue of the Washington Herald, “Dramatic Incidents of Presidential Inaugurations’ and the March 6, 1909 San Francisco Call article on “Notable Presidential Inaugurations, ” Written for “junior readers.” The junior section also has articles on how to make a xylophone, a serial book, Adventures of a Plucky Pony and student award winning writings.

An Inauguration Quiz  (Upper Elementary)

Inaugural Meals. Have students research historic inaugural meals and then plan a meal for the Obama inauguration. The bill of fare for Lincoln’s Inaugural Dinner

All the President's Tables:  Presidential Inaugural Menus

Inaugural Poetry and Addresses Lesson Plan on Inaugural Poetry

NY Times Articles (1) and (2)  about Elizabeth Alexander, Poet for Obama Inauguration

Transcripts of all Inaugural Addresses

Teaching for Tolerance (click on Classroom Activity, left side of page OR on title below) has four terrific lessons related to the election of President Barack Obama. An Historic Vote December 4, 2008 — In this lesson, students in the upper grades will explore the struggle of African Americans to attain voting rights and develop a greater appreciation for the significance of Barack Obama's election. Our Unfinished Work December 4, 2008 — In this activity, students in the upper grades will debunk the idea that Obama's election means race and racism are no longer relevant in U.S. society.  What Does 'Post Racial' Mean, Anyway? December 4, 2008 — In this activity, students in the middle and upper grades will explore whether Obama's selection as the next president of the United States marks a new era in America, one where race doesn't matter.  Welcome to the White House December 4, 2008 — In this early grades activity, students will discuss the significance of Barack Obama's presidency and create cards welcoming his children to the White House.

Easy Lessons: Activities for ESL students (or any student)

Links to lots of lessons on presidential inauguration

US Presidential INauguration Seen as Enduring Symbol of Democracy