The InaugurationA TeqSmart file for use with SMART Notebook Interactive whiteboards are in use in many classroom. Tequipment who works with to place SMART Boards in classrooms has put together a great file for use in exploring the day's events. It is available free for download in the Educator Resource Center (you must register for the site - also free). It is in the DOWNLOADS section under Social Studies - Middle School or, if you are already a member, just click here to be taken directly to the file.
Mary Stevens recently brought a great resource to my attention called lyvegyde which is a website she and her brother created to provide links to live, online events - primarily video webcasts, but also the occasional text chats or audio programs. They only provide links to free webcasts and rarely provide links to events that require registration. They also love interactive events, such as text chats or webcasts where viewers can submit questions. We do not include adult or otherwise explicit content.
After reviewing the site, I asked Mary if she could put together a guide for educators and she agreed and published a post that shares how educators can use this free resource in general, and specifically ways to use it in the upcoming election which she did in her post lyvegyde for educators.
I encourage you to visit the post.Highlights include:
ONLINE INAUGURATION COVERAGE FOR EDUCATORS
CNN Live will be integrated with facebook on inauguration day for any schools or teachers who want to update their facebook pages during the day. More details are here.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website states that they will have streaming coverage of the swearing-in ceremony with CLOSED CAPTIONING, which could be helpful in a classroom environment. The website does not say what time their coverage will begin. The actual swearing-in ceremony takes place at noon ET on January 20th. See lyvegyde link here.
News organizations such as C-SPAN, MSNBC, CBS News, Fox News, and more have also announced that they will have inauguration day coverage. Find more links on lyvegyde.
SOME OTHER UPCOMING EVENT LINKS FOR EDUCATORS
Here are examples of some upcoming video webcasts during the school day that may be of interest to teachers and their students:
Monday, January 26th at 9:45 am ET - The American Library Association's Youth Media Awards which includes the prestigious John Newbery Medal, given to an author for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" - see lyvegyde link here.
Other upcoming events may be of interest to educational leaders. For example, on Wednesday, February 11 at 5:00 pm ET, RiceUniversity is holding a panel discussion on the politics of teaching evolution in Texas. See lyvegyde link here.
ARCHIVED EVENT LINKS FOR EDUCATORS
In addition to providing links upcoming live events, lyvegyde also provides links to archived events whenever possible. Some categories where educators may find interesting events include education, children & family, political, government, science, and more. Sample events include the following:
December 17th interactive video webcast with astronaut Richard Garriott from the ChallengerCenter for Space Science Education See lyvegyde link here.
November 12th video webcast about Trouble Online: Campus Computing and the Law from the University of Illinois at SpringfieldSee lyvegyde link here.
So, there’s a taste.I encourage you to check out the lyvegyde for educators blog post and the lyvegydewebsite for additional information.
The New York City Department of Education has put together a fantastic 18-page compilation of activities and resources you can use on Inauguration Day (January 20) by clicking on the brochure cover.
The guide is divided by grade level (elementary, middle, high school) and into the areas of social studies, ELA, art, and technology.The guide was created to support teachers in challenging students to think creatively about what this historic day means for their future and the future of our country. The resource bank includes a full schedule of Inauguration Weekend and Inauguration Day activities.
Activity highlights include:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
If I were Malia or Sasha Obama…
Subject/Skill: ELA, Social Studies—journal activity
Activity Summary: Malia Obama told her dad that she plans on sitting at the desk of President Abraham Lincoln when she does her homework! Imagine how your life would be different if you lived at the White House.What might you like about living in the White House, and what might you dislike? If you were Malia, 10, or Sasha Obama, 7, and could give a speech about how to improve children's lives, what are three ideas you would include?
Dear President Obama…
Subject/Skill: ELA, Social Studies
Activity Summary: Write a letter to the new president either as a class or individually.In your letter, include the goals you would like to see President Obama achieve and your best wishes to the president and his family.You can mail your letters to the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC20500.
Resources:For a more detailed lesson plan from Education World, follow this link.Also, visit the White House official contact information page.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Inaugural Pennants
Subject/Skill: Social Studies, Arts
Activity Summary: Design a souvenir pennant for the 2009 inauguration.Study pennants designed for previous inaugurations.What symbols will you use that reflect what President Obama’s presidency will bring?
Resources: Examples of souvenir pennants from past inauguration events are available at the Education World site here.
Inaugural Discussions on Voki
Subject/Skill: Social Studies, ELA, Technology
Activity Summary: Encourage students to write and deliver an inaugural address or comment on President-elect Obama’s address using Voki.Students create avatars representing themselves and interact with other students in their school communities.
Resources: Vokienables students to express themselves on the web using a talking character. Students can customize their Voki to look like and/or take on the identity of many other types of human and nonhuman characters. Vokis can speak with the student’s own voice which is added via microphone, upload, or phone. Students can also choose to insert text and have the Voki use a variety of existing voices with more than a dozen different male and female accents to choose from.Once the student Voki’s are created, they can be inserted into a class blog, wiki, website, and more.From there the school community can comment on and discuss one another’s work and keep the conversation going.
HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Exploring President Obama’s Cabinet
Subject/Skill: Social Studies
Activity Summary: President-elect Obama is convening one of the most diverse cabinets in United States history. Find more information about the cabinet members who have been selected. Why do you think they have been selected?What kinds of experience do they bring to their roles?Why do you think the new president has convened such a diverse cabinet?What might this say about his vision or leadership style? Why do you think that this is an important change?What other cabinet positions have been filled? How many members make up a president’s cabinet and what are their key responsibilities?Are there some cabinet positions that have more prominence or importance than others?Why?Find out about the importance of the president’s cabinet regarding the line of succession.If you could be Cabinet Secretary, which post would you choose and why?What would you set as your top priorities?
Resources:For the most up-to-date information regarding President-elect Obama’s cabinet appointments, please see the CBS News website here.
Inauguration Interview
Subject/Skill: ELA, Social Studies
Activity Summary: If you were able to interview President Obama for your school newspaper, what are the five most important questions you would ask?What do students at your school most want to know about President Obama?
Resources:A detailed lesson plan for this activity can be found at Education World.
InnovativeEdu Jan 13, 2009 9:44:39 AM I recommend parents don’t have kids play hooky. Schools should be places where kids not only learn in the classroom but also connect to the real world. I encourage parents to work with their schools to make this an educational, real-world experience for their children. I know many schools across New York City are not only planning exciting ways to watch the Presidential Inauguration, but they are also developing engaging lessons ideas to do so. I have captured some of these ideas on my blog at Help Students Pay Attention to the 2009 Inauguration with Engaging Lesson Ideas. I encourage parents to connect and partner with their children’s teachers and/or administrators to see what type of activities they have planned and to suggest some ideas that they may have yet to realize.
I just received an email from Barack Obama with his advice for authentic ways to get involved in the Inauguration.
In it he says:
“We've put together an inaugural full of great events. I want you to be a part of the celebration -- whether you're traveling to Washington, D.C., or staying at home in your community. I've recorded a short video about all the ways that you can get involved in the upcoming events. Watch the video and sign up to bring the Inauguration to your community.
This inauguration isn't about me. It's about all of us.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is hard at work organizing the most open and accessible inauguration in our nation's history. We want every American to share in the celebration of change.
There are a number of ways for you to get involved in your community,
·from taking part in the national day of service on January 19th,
·to hosting a house party on January 20th -- your own Inaugural Ball.
I encourage innovative educators to work with their students to really getting involved and sign up. Have your class host a viewing party and arrange their own inaugural ball! Sign up for service with your students. And, yes, sign up for text updates on your phone and have a student in charge of sharing and reporting them.
Broadcast and cable news channels will have extensive coverage of the Jan. 20 inauguration and the events preceding it. The day will begin for the networks between 5-7 a.m. ET, when the morning shows set up the event at Capitol Hill. Major coverage will take place beginning at about 10:30 a.m., when the Obamas visit the White House for the traditional tea before the president and president-elect take the motorcade the short distance to Capitol Hill where the swearing in will take place. There are other events throughout the day, including a long parade that will be televised by all the major networks.
Streaming on the Internet
Major news web sites will offer live streaming video and audio of the ceremony.Visit your favorite TV Network or Cable station for details. Here are a few links to sites that will carry the broadcast streamed via the internet.
LINK-live Inaugural Gala uses digital technologies to bring Americans together to participate in conversations through video feeds, Flickr streams, liveblogs and more. Note: Content from the inauguration ceremony will not be available until after the ceremony has concluded. Great for follow up activities.
A few special broadcasts to note:
BET will carry the Inauguration ceremony and parade and will have extensive other coverage.
Nickelodeon will not offer live coverage, but will periodically present the highlights of the day with a focus on what it means for children.
Radio
I encourage educators to have a radio plan to witness the inauguration.There will likely be bandwidth issues in some school systems on this day.The ol’ reliable radio may be your best bet.You will be able to listen to the ceremony, live, on your favorite NPR station. Other NPR shows will either have an inaugural focus or will be preempted for special coverage. Check with your student's favorite radio stations to determine what kind of coverage they plan to have.
Viewing from School Sites
Schools should work with their on site instructional technology specialists to have laptops and projectors, televisions, and/or radios set up in designated areas around the school depending on the technological capabilities in their schools.
Viewing Details for New York City Department of Education Teachers The NYC DOE has partnered with ABC News to provide schools with a live Internet video stream of the presidential inauguration on January 20. The ideal location for viewing the broadcast is an auditorium, cafeteria, or large library with projection capabilities (including a laptop or computer with an Internet connection).
New York City teachers and administrators interested in taking advantage of this service can e-mail their borough technology manager (see the list at www.nycboe.net/schools/principals/weekly/20080106/borough_tech_managers.doc). The subject of your e-mail should be “INAUGURATION.” Your borough technology manager will contact your to schedule a visit by a technician who will assess your school’s capability to access the video stream. Technicians will work with your staff to set up and test the necessary equipment. If your school has limited technology resources or no large viewing space, the technician will explore possible alternative solutions (e.g., utilizing existing cable television service).
Consider an Inauguration Field Trip
There are many places that are hosting live screenings of the inauguration across the country. What better way to make this event special then to reach out and partnering with local community libraries, parks, theaters, etc. to provide a memorable experience for you and your students.Here are some screenings occurring in New York City.
Live Screening of Presendential Inauguration in Foley and Duffy Squares
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Here is what educators and their students can expect to see when watching the inauguration as the President-elect and Vice President-elect and their families participate in inaugural ceremonies and events. For the first time ever, the length of the National Mall will be open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Festivities will commence on the west front of the U.S. Capitol and will include:
10:00 AM
Preliminary festivities begin, including music by The United States Marine Band, The San Francisco Boys Chorus, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
11:30 AM
Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
Aretha Franklin will sing
Vice President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office
Music composed by John Williams and performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, and Anthony McGill.
12:00 Noon
As specified by the U.S. Constitution (20th Amendment), presidential terms of office begin and end at 12:00 noon on January 20. Barack Obama will take the oath of office, which is this simple, 36-word, statement:
I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
12:05 PM (approx)
President Barack Obama will give his inaugural address, speaking to the nation and world, for the first time, as President of the United States, followed by:
Poem: Elizabeth Alexander
Benediction: The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
The National Anthem: The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters"
1:00 PM (approx)
Inaugural Luncheon. For details on the menu and invited guests, see the news release.
2:00 PM (approx)
Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
Evening
There are many inaugural balls held around Washington, DC. Some will be hosted by President Obama, others are just parties.
Balls Hosted by President Obama For details, see the press release.
Youth Inaugural Ball - Young Americans aged 18-35
Obama Home States Inaugural Ball - Illinois and Hawaii invited guests
Biden Home States Inaugural Ball - Delaware and Pennsylvania invited guests
The InaugurationA TeqSmart file for use with SMART Notebook
