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What Happens in the White House? A Timeline
Introduction
Before beginning this lesson, refer to the images and group assignments in
lesson two.
Call up each student group in chronological order. Students should describe
their image, briefly tell the class about what their research revealed, read
their caption, and post the image on your History of the White House Timeline.
If desired, challenge students to find other events appropriate for the timeline
(see Preparing
to Teach This Lesson under Curriculum Unit).
Guiding Question:
How has the White House been touched by the great events of our nation's history?
Learning Objective
After completing the lessons in this unit, students will be able to:
- Create a chronology of important events that have occurred at or directly affected the White House.
How did a review of these historic events make students feel about the White
House? If the nation decided to build a new, more modern-looking house for the
President, it could be designed purposefully for all the things a President
now needs to do. Would it be a good idea to redesign the White House building
or is it better in some way that it has basically stayed the same since it was
built? Why? (NOTE: For more on the White House building and the changes it has
undergone, consult the companion EDSITEment lesson From
the White House of Yesterday to the White House of Today.)
Assessment
Share the following quote with the class:
“For two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people.”
—From White House History on the official website of The White House,
a link from the EDSITEment resource American Memory
How can a building in which people actually live be a symbol—that is, how can
it stand for an idea?
What are some of the ideas it might represent? Sometimes, the White House is
called “America's House.” Why would it be called that when only the President
and First Family live there?
Working individually or in groups, have students create an explanation, giving
specific reasons and examples of why the White House could be called “America's
House.” (If a student feels another “nickname” would be more appropriate, s/he
can defend that choice in an explanation.) Make sure students use their knowledge
of the different activities that occur at the White House as well as what has
happened there in the past in formulating their answers.
Extending the Lesson
- The White House Chronology, a timeline on the White House Historical Association website, a link from the EDSITEment resource Explore DC, contains many pieces of fascinating information about the President's home. For example, did you know that running water was first piped into the White House in 1833? Some students might enjoy turning such facts into a "believe it or don't believe it" book. Students particularly interested in history should pair each White House fact with something else occurring in the United States around the same time to provide context.
- Students might be interested to read about young people, such as Tad Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, Jr., who lived in the White House. Here are some places to meet First Children online:
- Students with an interest in architecture can learn more about specific characteristics of the Georgian/Palladian style used in the White House through the EDSITEment resource National Park Service: Links to the Past, which has a section on Georgian Architecture featuring an Interactive Activity and an interactive Quiz Game. Students who learn the characteristics can then label important features on a diagram, drawing, or photograph of the White House.
- Dolley Madison is credited with coolly saving some important objects from the White House shortly before it was burned by the British in 1814. The White House Historical Association website, a link from the EDSITEment resource Explore DC, features a number of resources including:
- Some background on the role African Americans played in building the White House is available on the White House Historical Association website, a link from the EDSITEment resource Explore DC. Its African Americans and the White House Timeline gives information about the role of African Americans throughout the history of the White House.
Selected EDSITEment Websites
Standards Alignment
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