Good morning, name of school. This is name of narrator with a few words of wisdom.

Transcription

1 Key Ideas: Barack Obama as the first African-American president/inaugural theme: A New Birth of Freedom/Gettysburg Address Character Traits: Citizenship/Patriotism/Responsibility Level: Secondary Good morning, name of school. This is name of narrator with a few words of wisdom. Today, America celebrates a historic event of which we can all be proud as we inaugurate Barack Obama as our first African-American president. President-elect Obama noted the significance of this historic landmark well on election night when he said: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. We now pull together to greet our opportunities and to face our challenges because the dream of our founding fathers was a government of the people, by the people, and for the people... a government that would never perish from the earth. Our new head of state, Barack Obama, has asked us to:... summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. And that is exactly what people of good character do. With something to think about, this is. Make it a great day... or not. The choice is yours. Broadcast Message ERS 08-Inaug

2 Teacher Copy Key Ideas: Character Traits: Concept: Materials: Directions: Barack Obama as the first African-American president/inaugural theme: A New Birth of Freedom/Gettysburg Address Citizenship/Patriotism/Responsibility Students explore the power of democracy, how it relates to this historic inauguration and what it means to summon a new spirit of patriotism. Suggested activities for art classes may require materials for creating a drawing, painting, or poster. Read or ask a student to read aloud the Project Wisdom message that accompanies this lesson plan. Distribute and have the students complete the worksheet. Ask for volunteers to share responses to the following questions. Discussion Generators For the Message and/or Worksheet 1. Barack Obama says that there can be no doubt that the dream of our founders is still alive in our times. To what is he referring? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? 2. Does his election prove the power of our democracy? How? Does this contrast to other nations in the world that are non-democratic? How? 3. Do you agree with the idea that all things are possible in America? Why or why not? Give examples to support your opinion. 4. Barack Obama calls upon us to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Do you think that is a responsibility we have as American citizens? How might you apply that to your life? Explain. 5. What do Barack Obama s words have to do with being a person of good character? For the Worksheet 1. What did the excerpt from Lincoln s Gettysburg Address mean to you? 2. Specifically how might the phrase this nation shall have a new birth of freedom relate to this historic inauguration? 3. How might the phrase that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth relate the idea of freedom and global events? 4. Barack Obama has asked Americans to summon a new spirit of patriotism. What does he mean when he states that we need a new spirit? What does being patriotic mean to you? How might you summon a new spirit of patriotism? Closing Comments Each of us is privileged to live in a democracy where all things really are possible because we have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people and because we enjoy freedoms that many have died to preserve for us. Today our nation receives Barack Obama as our new president and together we celebrate this historic moment in our nation s history. Page 1 of 4

3 Student Copy GLOSSARY ````` commemorate to ` call to remembrance; to mark by some ceremony or observation relate to show a connection between the two resolve to make a firm decision vain without success; lacking worth The theme for this presidential inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom," and it commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The theme was chosen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in consultation with the Senate Historian's Office ( 1. Lincoln s Gettysburg Address was delivered after the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War. Thousands of soldiers had lost their lives. In this address, Lincoln says "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." What do these words mean to you? over 2. Specifically how might the phrase this nation shall have a new birth of freedom relate to this historic inauguration? over 3. How might the phrase that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth relate the idea of freedom and global events? over 4. Barack Obama has asked Americans to summon a new spirit of patriotism. What does being patriotic mean to you? How might you summon a new spirit of patriotism? over Page 2 of 4

4 Teacher Copy Follow-up Activities Art View with your students Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell and discuss the part that artists play in fighting for and celebrating political freedom. Ask your students to make an artwork which celebrates one or more of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Afterward, view the works and discuss. Ask your students to make an artwork which interprets a new spirit of patriotism. Afterward, view the works and ask for volunteers to discuss their interpretations. What is our responsibility as citizens in relationship to the spirit of patriotism? Discuss. Review the lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner. Discuss the meaning of the song. Create a piece of artwork that reflects the themes within this song and how it still relates to our country today after almost 200 years. Social Studies Read the Gettysburg Address with your students. Discuss the times and circumstances surrounding the delivery of the address by President Lincoln. Compare and contrast those times to our own. Is it appropriate to summon the spirit of the Gettysburg address during this historic moment in our nation? Why or why not? How can we as individuals contribute to a new birth of freedom in our country? Discuss. Do you think that electing an African-American to the highest office in the land opens the door for other minorities such as women and those of other faiths to hold the office in the future? Why or why not? Does this election represent a special circumstance or a true step forward in our democracy? What part does each individual play in determining whether or not we continue to be the land of equal opportunity? Discuss. What does it mean to be patriotic? Has the notion of patriotism changed in recent years? Is patriotism possible or advisable only in democracies? Why or why not? Discuss. Is it important to feel a sense of belonging to your country? Discuss. Language Arts Are we experiencing a new birth of freedom in our country as the Inaugural theme suggests? Ask your students to write a persuasive essay supporting one side or the other of this question. Afterward ask for volunteers to read aloud and discuss. Ask your students to write a poem with the opening line A new spirit of patriotism on the theme of individual responsibility and citizenship. Afterward, ask for volunteers to read aloud and discuss. What does it mean to be free? Discuss how many areas of our lives would change if we weren t granted the freedoms we have here in the U.S. What are some of the principles of freedom? Discuss why some countries don t have as many freedoms as we do in the U.S. Page 3 of 4

5 Math Ask your students to make a visual representation of the percentage of presidents who were anything other than Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, white, males in a pie chart. What does the chart indicate? Do you predict the chart will change over the coming year? Why or why not? If so, will the change help to bring about a new spirit of patriotism? Discuss. Ask your students to research the number of democracies around the world at the beginning and again at the close of the 20 th century. Compile the findings as a class and make a visual representation. What do the findings show and what are the implications for the world? With so many new democracies around the world does patriotism to our own take on new meaning? Why or why not? Discuss. Science What is the relationship between science and democracy? Ask your students to write a short essay on this question. Does democracy support science? Why or why not? Is there a place for democracy in science? Why or why not? Discuss. Is there a place for patriotism in science? Why or why not? Is a scientist s first obligation to his or her country or to science? Discuss. Obama states that we need to look after not only ourselves, but each other. Is there a role for this philosophy in the scientific world as well? What would happen if we failed to do this on the scientific front? Discuss. Computer Science Has the advent of the Internet opened a door for democracy? Why or why not? Do we have a patriotic obligation when it comes to the Internet? Why or why not? Discuss. Ask your students to use your graphics program to design a poster for the inauguration of President-elect Obama which emphasizes the Mr. Obama s charge to the nation to summon a new spirit of patriotism. Afterward view the products and choose one to reproduce and post around your campus. Page 4 of 4