Lesson Plan #: CC-0078


Lesson 2: Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt Made Significant Contributions to American Society.


Objectives: The student will be able to:

1. analyze references giving biographical accounts of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.

2. explain how FDR contributed to American society through his New Deal programs and Fireside Chats.

3. explain how Eleanor contributed to American society through her travel throughout the United States giving speeches, her work in journalism, her care for the underprivileged, and her work toward equal rights.


Description of lesson/activity:

1. Students should be introduced to FDR and Eleanor through a read-aloud or video. Suggestions are offered in the "resources" section below.

2. Students should pick reference books on FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. Time should be given for students to read the books in class. When reading is complete, students should fill in an outline form gathering all pertinent information on the lives of the se two great historical figures. Forms may need to be structured differently depending upon resources available.

3. Upon completion of the outlines, students should work in cooperative groups discussing what they have found through research. One child should act as a reader and list all similarities found within a group. Within the same cooperative setting, each gr oup should construct two time lines depicting the important events in FDR's and Eleanor's lives. The time lines must be historically accurate; pictures and words from magazines or newspapers may be included.

4. Students should refer to the worksheet entitled "FDR's Theme Song!" Lyrics should be read and students should complete the worksheet. Learning to sing the song would be a nice enrichment activity.

5. Students should each receive a dime (which shows FDR). Students should seek answers from older friends and relatives as to what items could be bought with a dime in the 1930s. Compile a class list. Students should create a "dime" out of posterboard. On one side, students should draw a portrait of FDR. On the other side, students should draw a picture representing the FDR era.


Resources for Lesson 2:

Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt. (Holiday House, 1991).

Freedman, Russell. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery. (Clarion, 1993).

Freedman, Russell. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (Scholastic Inc, 1990).

Osinski, Alice. Encyclopedia of Presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Chicago: Children's Press, 1987).

Weidt, Maryann N. Stateswoman to the World. (Carolrhoda Books, 1991).