Hands-on+Activity+Demo

Kellina Keown Hands-On Activity Lesson

Lesson Topic: History: US Presidents, and Presidential Cabinet Grade Level: 5 Time: Two class periods

PA Standards:

8.3.5.C: Differentiate how continuity and change in U.S. history are formed and operate. Politics and government

NCSS Theme: Power, Authority and Governance

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to explain and illustrate who was in their presidents’ cabinet. Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge president.

Materials: scissors glue marker pencil lined paper

Hands-On Activity Description:

Students will first choose a president. Then research who that presidents cabinet members were. Students must find the secretary of the treasury, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and the attorney general. Students will then be given two copies of the cabinet template. Each cabinet is to be cut out. Students are to cut out the sides and bottom of each drawer on one of the copies. ( not cutting the tops) Place the cut cabinet on top of the other template. use glue to secure the two. Do not glue the chores closed. Students will then label the cabinet. Placing one member of the cabinet in each chore of the cabinet. Having the president at the top.

Next students will create and acrostic poem using their presidents last name. Students are to create the poem on the lined paper provided. Once finished their poem students decorate and color their poem.

Assessment: Students acrostic poem and cabinet display will both be collected and assessed based on the following rubric.


 * || **Not Passed** || **Passed** ||
 * Acrostic Poem || Poem is not complete, not all letters have words or phrases. Words and phrases are not related to the topic. || Poem includes a word or phrase for each letter in the name. Words and phrases are directly related to the topic. ||
 * Presidential Cabinet || Cabinet is not labeled correctly. Cabinet chores do not open. Directions were not followed. || Cabinet is labeled with president at the top. Directions were followed correctly and all chores in project open to display the cabinet members ||