“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!”
For further information contact…
Michaela Walker
Dale R Fair Babson Park Elem
Route D
815 N Scenic Hwy
Babson Park, 33827
(863) 678-4664
michaela.walker@polk-fl.net
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
n PROGR AM OVERVIEW
n OVER ALL VALUE
n MATERIALS
This program was designed to add
some spice and grow excitement of the
writing process. The procedure was
getting a little mundane so they needed
a twist and this was it!
They are using the writing format
they have learned, but by adding other
activities, a new found love for writing
emerges! The students took time to
examine themselves and discover
their best qualities while we discussed
leadership traits.
vCharacter Ed Posters
vPicture of current US president
vPoster of past presidents
vChart paper
vBook: So You Want To Be President?
by Judith St George and David
Small
vLined paper
vPencils
vButton maker or blank mailing label
stickers
vResearch tools (books, internet,
posters) with information on past
Presidents
Students use the writing process
to compose a “Campaign Speech” of
why s/he should be the president of our
class. We take time prior to writing to
discuss qualities and character traits that
make a strong leader and an all around
good citizen. The students also create
a campaign button, slogan, draw a self
portrait, and present the finished product
to the class. We follow that up by holding
an election to vote for a “class president
for a day.”
As enrichment, students may choose
a past president to research and report
back to the class. This can be made
more complex depending on the age of
the students.
I use this during the President’s Day
holiday, but it would obviously also be
wonderful in an election year. It’s easy
to build on to add more social studies to
the program.
The writing portion was designed for
a split group of 34 2nd grade students.
The presidential research activity was
left for high achieving students that
were ready for an enrichment activity
to accompany this. It can easily be
adapted to higher grade levels.
I also found that many of the children
were intrigued by the presidential
position and historical information
surrounding past presidents.
n LESSON PLAN TITLES
• Character Leads
• Do You Want To Be President?
• Presidents - Tell Me More!
n INTERNET
RESOURCES
www.whitehousekids.gov and
Scholastic’s Grolier online
n ABOUT THE DEVELOPER
Michaela Walker has a B.A. in Early
Childhood and Elementary Education
from Evangel University in Springfield,
Missouri. She is currently working as a
2nd grade teacher at Dale R. Fair Babson
Park Elementary.
HHH
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Lesson Plan No 1: Character Leads
n SUBJECTS COVERED
n DIRECTIONS
Character Education and
Social Studies
1. First, make a list of leaders on a
piece of chart paper. (principals,
presidents, teachers, pastors, etc.)
2. What character traits are important
for leaders to have? Make a list next
to the leaders list. (You will add to
this list in lesson 2.)
n GR ADES
Two - Six
n OBJECTIVES
1. Discover and discuss qualities of
good citizens and leaders.
2. Review who our current president is
and what his job is.
n SUNSHINE STATE
STANDARDS
n EVALUATION/
ASSESSMENT
As this is a lesson to prepare for
lesson 2, a full assessment will be made
at the completion of lesson 2.
3. Now transition into talk about the
president. Show them a picture of
our current president and ask if they
know who he is? What’s his job?
Can he do anything he wants?
4. Do you know the names of any
presidents that came before the
one we have now? Are any of these
presidents known for having these
character traits? (“Honest Abe”)
Show them the poster of our past
presidents and explain the numbers
and years.
SS.C.1.1.4
The student recognizes major
elected officials
SS.C.2.1.1
The student knows the qualities of
a good citizen
n MATERIALS
•
Character Education posters
including: honesty, integrity,
courage, patriotism, responsibility,
caring
•
Picture of our current president
•
Poster of past presidents
•
Chart paper
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
HHH
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Lesson Plan No 2: Do You Want To Be President?
n SUBJECTS COVERED
n MATERIALS
Social Studies
Language Arts
Character Education
Art
• So You Want To Be President? by
Judith St. George and David Small
n GR ADES
Two - Six
n OBJECTIVES
1. Continue discussion on qualities of
good citizens and leaders
2. Listen to gain information on past
presidents
3. Express personal traits that would
make the student a good president
through writing
•
Character Education posters for
review including: honesty, integrity,
courage, patriotism, responsible,
caring
•
Character trait chart from lesson 1
•
Paper and pencil for rough draft of
campaign speech
1. Review the list of traits and leaders
compiled from Lesson 1. The
students will remember that these
are all excellent traits for leaders.
4. Use art tools appropriately to draw
a self portrait
n SUNSHINE STATE
STANDARDS
3. Discuss what they learned about
the qualities that make a good
president.
Student knows significant individuals
in US history since 1880
LA.B.1.1
The student used writing processes
effectively
VA.A.1.1.4
The student understands and
applies media, techniques, and
processes
Students present speeches after
revisions are complete. The class votes
on a president and the elected person
gets to be line leader, have a special
designated desk, and help with decision
making for the day. The following rubric
is used in grading each speech.
n DIRECTIONS
2. Read So You Want to Be President?
and have students listen for more
traits to add to the list when complete.
Ask the students to listen for past
presidents who were known for their
strong character and those who
were known for bad character.
SS.A.5.1.1
n EVALUATION /
ASSESSMENT
Do you possess any of those
qualities now?
What would make you a good
president?
4. Using the following handout,
students are then to write a speech
giving two reasons they would be
a good president supported with
details.
5. Students must draw a self-portrait to
accompany their speech on the wall
display. Also, they are to design a
button or sticker to wear on election
day.
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
HHH
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Lesson Plan No 3: Presidents - Tell Me More!
n SUBJECTS COVERED
n MATERIALS
Language Arts
Social Studies
•
n GR ADES
Research tools including:
-Internet
-(Groiler online) encyclopedias
-non-fiction books
•
Presidential questionnaire “Facts to
Find”
•
Large cardstock for posters/book
pages
Two - Six
n EVALUATION /
ASSESSMENT
Student will be graded on the number
of questions answered and inclusion of
president’s picture on the poster. After
all presentations are made, students will
be given the following journal prompt:
Tell me which past president is most
interesting to you and why. What were
the most interesting things you learned
about him?
n OBJECTIVES
To enrich and expand on knowledge
about past presidents (This can be given
as a whole class assignment or for
enrichment for ALPHA students.)
n SUNSHINE STATE
STANDARDS
LA.A.2.1.3
The student reads informational
texts for specific purposes
n DIRECTIONS
1. Each student will select a president
to research.
2. Using various resources, students
will answer questions about his/her
president on the “Facts to Find”
worksheet.
3. When all information is gathered and
presentations are made, the work
will be bound in a class book.
SS.A.5.1.1
The student knows significant individuals in US history since 1880
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
HHH
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Lesson Plans Materials Budget
Materials Budget
SupplierItem Description
Cost
Quantity
Total Cost
79.95
1
79.97
4.00
1
4.00
10.00
1
10.00
7.95
1
7.95
22.60
1
22.60
buybuttonparts.com
2 1/4 bench press button maker system
Amazon.com
Time for Kids: Theodore Roosevelt
Time for Kids: JFK
Andrew Jackson by Mike Venezia
George Washington by Robin Nelson
Ghosts of the White House by Cheryl Harness
4.90
1
4.90
Time for Kids: FDR
4.00
1
4.00
Time for Kids: Ronald Regan
4.00
1
4.00
Classroom Direct
Character Education Posters
9.99
1
9.99
Patriotic Charts Bundle
11.99
1
11.99
Famous Faces: US Presidents
24.99
1
24.99
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Subtotal
$201.86
________________________________________________
Michaela Walker
Teacher’s Name___________________________________
Dale R Fair Babson
School:__________________________________________
Park Elementary
________________________________________________
Tax if applicable
________________________________________________
Shipping if applicable
________________________________________________
TOTAL
BUDGET
AMOUNT
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
$201.86
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Rubric for Presidential Speeches
Name: ____________________________ Objective
Date: _____________
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Introduction
paragraph
includes
opening
statement and
two main ideas
The main ideas
and opening
statement are
not clearly
expressed.
Two main
ideas are listed
without a
clear opening
statement.
A clear opening
statement is made
with only one main
idea listed.
Two main ideas are
stated with a clear
opening statement.
Transitional
words with
commas are
used to begin
paragraphs.
A transition
word is used
in only 1
paragraph.
Transition
words are used
in 2 out of 4
paragraphs.
Transition words
are used in each
paragraph but
commas are
missing.
Transition words
are used correctly
in all paragraphs
with commas
included.
Two main
ideas are stated
in separate
paragraphs
with a
supporting
detail for each.
Main ideas
are not clearly
stated and
details do not
support them.
Main ideas
are stated, but
details are not
very supportive.
Main ideas are
stated and details
are stated with
each.
Main ideas are
both clearly stated
as a character
trait with strong,
personal details to
support each main
idea.
Descriptive
words are
lacking in all
paragraphs
Descriptive
words are
being used
consistently
but not in all
paragraphs
Descriptive
words are used in
paragraphs
An abundance of
descriptive words
are used in every
paragraph
Paragraphs are
not grouped
appropriately or
indented.
Paragraphs
are indented,
but proper
information is
not grouped
in correct
paragraphs.
Paragraphs are not
indented, but the
proper information
is grouped together
in each paragraph.
The paragraphs
are clear with
main idea and
details in the same
paragraph. All
paragraphs are
indented.
Descriptive
words are used
in writing.
Paragraph
structure is
used with
indenting.
The conclusion
restates the
opening
paragraph
with a “wow”
ending
Conclusion is
Introduction
written without
is not clearly
re-stating the
re-stated, but
introduction and
the ownership/
no ownership/
“wow” sentence
“wow” sentence
is included.
is included.
Introduction is
clearly re-stated
in the conclusion,
but the ownership/
“wow” sentence is
missing.
Introduction is
clearly re-stated
in the conclusion.
Speech ends with a
sentence that gives
them ownership/
“wow” sentence
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Additional Information
NAME _____________________________
FACTS TO FIND
Please use the following questions to help you research about your chosen
president. You then get to draw a picture of the president to include in our
class book. J
President researching: _________________________
What number president was he?
When did he live?
Where was he born?
When was he president?
What did he do before becoming president?
Who lived in the White House with him?
What did he like to do for fun?
Which modes of transportation did he use?
What were his greatest accomplishments while president?
What other interesting facts did you learn?
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence
“So You Want To Be President? Prove It!” Michaela Walker
Additional Information
We have had many great presidents in the past and I know it’s not an easy job. I’m here to tell you
today why you should vote for me, ___________________, to be your next president. I would make a
great president because __________________________________________________________
__________________ and _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
First of all, I would be a wonderful president
Secondly, I would be an excellent president
because _____________________________
because ______________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
One time I ____________________________
One time I ____________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
Finally, I am ready for the challenge of being your President. Please vote for me because ________
________________________________________________________________________ and
____________________________________________________________________________.
I am ready to be your president and thank you for your vote!
2007 - 2008 Idea Catalog of Excellence