Presidential Duties and Responsibilities

This activity includes whole group instruction, small group instruction and individual instruction. The instructor should prepare the pacing and depth of conversation based on the level of the students in the class.

Students will take a position on one of the many topics listed and create an argument that is supported with the use of primary sources found on the Truman Presidential Library website.

Study of Jackson’s battle with the Bank of the US using a primary source with a student application piece

Students will learn about Presidential State visits and dinners through the powerpoint of pictures about Gerald Ford’s presidency of hosting and attending state dinners. (He is used as an example since he hosted the most state dinners as President.) Then students will look at an infographic about the continents that are most visited by Presidents for state dinners.

Students will research and analyze the lives and legacies of a US President or US First Lady, utilizing at least three online websites and at least one written source.

This activity asks the essential question “What leadership qualities do modern Vice Presidents need to fulfill their many roles?”  The focus is on Vice President George H.W. Bush during the assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan. 

Students will debate the achievements of the Presidents.

Students will analyze primary documents about the Truman administration and create a textbook page.

Students will analyze the power of the Presidency in the U.S. Using a timeline of events of the Korean War (all events and people will be hidden in pseudonym during simulation), students will determine how the President exercises his authority.

Students will study and analyze letters written to Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depressions while he was implementing the New Deal programming. The students will reflect and compare the Great Depression to our current economic situation.