Ohio Social Studies Ohio Social Studies Content StandardsContent StandardsFamous AmericansFamous Americans

By: Sara MessnerBy: Sara Messner

ED 317 – 01ED 317 – 01

Table of ContentsTable of Contents Content Standard 1 – HistoryContent Standard 1 – History Content Standard 2 – People in SocietiesContent Standard 2 – People in Societies Content Standard 3 – GeographyContent Standard 3 – Geography Content Standard 4 – EconomicsContent Standard 4 – Economics Content Standard 5 – GovernmentContent Standard 5 – Government Content Standard 6 – Citizen Rights and Content Standard 6 – Citizen Rights and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Content Standard 7 – Social Studies Content Standard 7 – Social Studies

Skills and MethodsSkills and Methods

HistoryHistory

History ActivitiesHistory Activities Students will make a timeline of the life of a Students will make a timeline of the life of a

famous American (e.g. an inventor, an explorer, famous American (e.g. an inventor, an explorer, political or social leader).political or social leader).

Read a biography of Thomas Edison and explain Read a biography of Thomas Edison and explain how he made a difference in others’ lives.how he made a difference in others’ lives.

Read a book about George Washington. Discuss Read a book about George Washington. Discuss what daily life was like in Washington’s day.what daily life was like in Washington’s day.

Research Alexander Graham Bell on the internet. Research Alexander Graham Bell on the internet. Draw pictures of how people communicated Draw pictures of how people communicated before the telephone was invented.before the telephone was invented.

In chronological order, list the birthdays of all of In chronological order, list the birthdays of all of the presidents.the presidents.

History WebsitesHistory Websites http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidenhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presiden

ts/index.htmlts/index.html

http://www.smithsonian.kids.us/http://www.smithsonian.kids.us/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/history/http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/history/

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/paghttp://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgie.cgi

http://www.cr.nps.gov/colherit.htmhttp://www.cr.nps.gov/colherit.htm

People in People in SocietiesSocieties

People in Societies People in Societies ActivitiesActivities

Read a biography of Henry Ford. Discuss how he Read a biography of Henry Ford. Discuss how he influenced the culture of the United States.influenced the culture of the United States.

Watch a movie about the Underground Railroad. After Watch a movie about the Underground Railroad. After watching the movie, discuss with students how Harriet watching the movie, discuss with students how Harriet Tubman and others made an impact on the culture of Tubman and others made an impact on the culture of the United States.the United States.

Research on the internet a famous American who has Research on the internet a famous American who has made major contributions to the United States of made major contributions to the United States of America.America.

Take a trip to the library. Research an inventor. Write Take a trip to the library. Research an inventor. Write a paragraph about the inventor highlighting major a paragraph about the inventor highlighting major events in their life and their contributions to society.events in their life and their contributions to society.

Have students dress up as a famous American. Have Have students dress up as a famous American. Have each student give an oral report about how their each student give an oral report about how their famous American made significant contributions to the famous American made significant contributions to the United States.United States.

People in Societies People in Societies WebsitesWebsites

http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/

http://www.americaslibrary.govhttp://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa

http://www.educationalsynthesihttp://www.educationalsynthesis.org/famamer/Second.htmls.org/famamer/Second.html

http://www.teachersfirst.com/shttp://www.teachersfirst.com/share/states/famous-main.cfmhare/states/famous-main.cfm

http://www.gardenofpraise.comhttp://www.gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm/leaders.htm

GeographyGeography

Geography ActivitiesGeography Activities Students will construct a map of the United Students will construct a map of the United

States. On the map, students will show the States. On the map, students will show the birthplaces of all the U.S. presidents.birthplaces of all the U.S. presidents.

Students will read about George Washington and Students will read about George Washington and take notice of the physical environment (e.g. take notice of the physical environment (e.g. roads) in his day. Discuss how people have roads) in his day. Discuss how people have changed the physical environment since his time changed the physical environment since his time (e.g. paved streets).(e.g. paved streets).

Provide a list of world explorers for the students. Provide a list of world explorers for the students. Have the students map out which continent Have the students map out which continent each explorer is from. The students will each explorer is from. The students will recognize that the United States is in the recognize that the United States is in the continent of North America.continent of North America.

Geography Activities Geography Activities ContinuedContinued

Locate the capital of the United States Locate the capital of the United States on a map. Discuss what buildings and on a map. Discuss what buildings and landmarks are located there. Also landmarks are located there. Also discuss what important people live in discuss what important people live in the nation’s capital. the nation’s capital.

Students will make a model of a map Students will make a model of a map of the United States. On the map, of the United States. On the map, they will included where important they will included where important landmarks that are named after landmarks that are named after famous Americans are located.famous Americans are located.

Geography WebsitesGeography Websites http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/funfacts/fuhttp://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/funfacts/fu

nfacts.htmlnfacts.html

http://nationalatlas.gov/http://nationalatlas.gov/

http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/tophttp://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/explorer/topic_map.htmic_map.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/

EconomicsEconomics

Economics ActivitiesEconomics Activities

Have American currency available for the Have American currency available for the students to look at. Ask them who is on the students to look at. Ask them who is on the quarter, dime, nickel and penny. Also ask quarter, dime, nickel and penny. Also ask about the dollar bill, five dollar bill, ten dollar about the dollar bill, five dollar bill, ten dollar bill and the twenty dollar bill. Discuss other bill and the twenty dollar bill. Discuss other countries currency what or who is on the countries currency what or who is on the currency.currency.

Have students choose a famous American. Have students choose a famous American. Then have the students decide if their Then have the students decide if their occupation produced a good or service. For occupation produced a good or service. For example, the presidents of the United States example, the presidents of the United States provide a service and produced a good.provide a service and produced a good.

Economics Activities Economics Activities ContinuedContinued Have students research Benjamin Franklin. Have students research Benjamin Franklin.

Have students make a list of all of the ways we Have students make a list of all of the ways we use electricity. Students will learn that we use use electricity. Students will learn that we use electricity in a variety of ways.electricity in a variety of ways.

Have students research American political Have students research American political leaders. Students will recognize through their leaders. Students will recognize through their research that these political leaders produced a research that these political leaders produced a service for our nation.service for our nation.

Research Bill Gates on the internet. Have Research Bill Gates on the internet. Have students determine who he is and how he students determine who he is and how he became famous.became famous.

Economics WebsitesEconomics Websites http://www.fdic.gov/about/learn/learning/index.hhttp://www.fdic.gov/about/learn/learning/index.h

tmltml

http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?Filecontehttp://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?Filecontents=/kids/timemachine/index.cfmnts=/kids/timemachine/index.cfm

http://www.moneyfactory.com/http://www.moneyfactory.com/

http://www.kidsbank.com/index_2.asphttp://www.kidsbank.com/index_2.asp

http://library.thinkquest.org/3901/http://library.thinkquest.org/3901/

GovernmentGovernment

Government ActivitiesGovernment Activities Research an important landmark that is named after Research an important landmark that is named after

a famous American. What does the landmark a famous American. What does the landmark represent? Make a model or drawing of the represent? Make a model or drawing of the landmark.landmark.

Read a biography about George W. Bush. Discuss Read a biography about George W. Bush. Discuss how he became president.how he became president.

Make a diagram of how a person is elected president. Make a diagram of how a person is elected president. Include the following; nominating conventions, Include the following; nominating conventions, campaigning, Election day and inauguration day.campaigning, Election day and inauguration day.

Read a book about United States Presidents. Discuss Read a book about United States Presidents. Discuss the importance of the president and government. the importance of the president and government.

Have students list symbols of our nation. Have the Have students list symbols of our nation. Have the students create a symbol that represents our nation. students create a symbol that represents our nation. Have students share their symbols with the class. Have students share their symbols with the class.

Government WebsitesGovernment Websites http://www.whitehouse.gov/governmenthttp://www.whitehouse.gov/government

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.htmlhttp://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html

http://www.takeyourkidstovote.org/youth/elhttp://www.takeyourkidstovote.org/youth/elementary.htmementary.htm

http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htmhttp://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm

http://www.epa.gov/kids/http://www.epa.gov/kids/

Citizen Citizen Rights and Rights and

ResponsibiliResponsibilitiesties

Citizen Rights and Citizen Rights and Responsibilities ActivitiesResponsibilities Activities

Read a book about patriotism. Ask Read a book about patriotism. Ask students to list ways in which they students to list ways in which they display patriotism toward our country. display patriotism toward our country. Also discuss why patriotism is important.Also discuss why patriotism is important.

Research Abraham Lincoln in books and Research Abraham Lincoln in books and on the internet. Have the students find on the internet. Have the students find out how many times he ran for public out how many times he ran for public office and failed. Students will learn it is office and failed. Students will learn it is important to have persistence.important to have persistence.

Citizenship Rights & Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities Activities Responsibilities Activities

ContinuedContinued Read about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. Ask Read about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. Ask

students how the Civil War ended and how Lincoln students how the Civil War ended and how Lincoln contributed. Students will learn that Lincoln contributed. Students will learn that Lincoln respecting the rights of others.respecting the rights of others.

Read a book about the American flag. Discuss how Read a book about the American flag. Discuss how Betsy Ross demonstrated the citizenship trait of Betsy Ross demonstrated the citizenship trait of patriotism by creating a symbol for the United Statespatriotism by creating a symbol for the United States

Read a book about Martin Luther King Jr. Students Read a book about Martin Luther King Jr. Students will learn that he possessed the character trait of will learn that he possessed the character trait of persistence.persistence.

Citizen Rights and Citizen Rights and Responsibilities WebsitesResponsibilities Websites

http://www.hud.gov/kids/http://www.hud.gov/kids/

http://special.msn.com/weeklyreader/gradek2/defhttp://special.msn.com/weeklyreader/gradek2/default.armxault.armx

http://www.kidsvotingohio.org/http://www.kidsvotingohio.org/

http://www.actsofkindness.org/http://www.actsofkindness.org/

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/citizenship/responsihttp://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/citizenship/responsibilities.htmlbilities.html

Social Social Studies Studies

Skills and Skills and MethodsMethods

Social Studies Skills and Social Studies Skills and Methods ActivitiesMethods Activities

Have students obtain information through researching a Have students obtain information through researching a president on the internet. Have students write a president on the internet. Have students write a paragraph about the president researched.paragraph about the president researched.

Have students ask their parents or grandparents what Have students ask their parents or grandparents what they remember about a significant historical event. For they remember about a significant historical event. For example, the first person to walk on the moon, the example, the first person to walk on the moon, the assassination of JFK.assassination of JFK.

Have a guest dress up as Abraham Lincoln or any Have a guest dress up as Abraham Lincoln or any famous American Have students interview him to find famous American Have students interview him to find out about his life. out about his life.

Have students gather information in books at the school Have students gather information in books at the school library about an inventor. Have students present library about an inventor. Have students present findings to the class.findings to the class.

Have students write a newspaper article about an event Have students write a newspaper article about an event that changed the United States (e.g. invention).that changed the United States (e.g. invention).

Social Studies Skills and Social Studies Skills and Methods WebsitesMethods Websites

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/

http://www.pocanticohills.org/wright/wright.htmhttp://www.pocanticohills.org/wright/wright.htm

http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/flag/http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/flag/betsy/page1.htmbetsy/page1.htm

http://www.funbrain.com/who/http://www.funbrain.com/who/

http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/franklin/franklin.http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/franklin/franklin.htmhtm