Lesson Plan #: AELP-USH0027

Tea at the White House

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Gina Peery
School or Affiliation: Wilson Elementary School, Payson, UT
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 5

Subject(s):

Description: This activity is a good one to increase interest in historical characters. United States history is stressed in 5th grade social studies curriculum. This activity helps with knowledge and understanding of the people who affected this history.

Goal: Many subjects are enhanced through this activity. Not only are the students learning about famous historical people - they are also learning valuable research and writing skills, memorization techniques, social skills, and creativity.

Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity the students will be able to demonstrate the following:

  1. Knowledge of a famous person from history.
  2. How to write a research paper and then simplify it into a speech.
  3. How to memorize a speech and deliver it to an audience.

Materials: None.

Procedure:

Each student chooses a person from history (example: Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, etc.). The students should then do research for information on the person. Providing an outline will help to direct the research.

Example Outline:

  1. When & Where Born
  2. Family Life (married, parents, children, etc.)
  3. Physical Characteristics
  4. What Made Them Famous
  5. Death
  6. Any Other Interesting Information

When the reports are finished, instruct the students that they are going to pretend to be that famous person for one afternoon. They must invent a costume and stand in front of the group and tell their life story. The teacher will have to help them condense the research into a short speech. The speech should be in the First Person ("I was born....", "I was famous for...."). Then give them time to memorize it.

When all is ready, invite the parents to come to your presentation. On the day of your program, have each student in turn stand in front of the group in costume and recite their speech. When all students have taken part, serve refreshments!

Tying it All Together:

Both students and parents enjoy this activity. I like to make it more exciting by having the students not identify their character. I then have a contest with the parents trying to identify the characters represented. This makes it more fun for all. The title "Tea at the White House" comes from the fact that we decorate our classes to represent the White House. What better place to have all of the famous historical figures meet? We try to stick with the theme and have very nice refreshments.