CURRICULAR RESOURCES
Innovative lesson plans, activities, resources, and online exhibits feature archival materials to fit your classroom needs.
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John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service. The letter included in this activity, written by a third-grade student, is one of thousands housed at the Kennedy Presidential Library.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: Civics and US Government, English Language Arts, US History
Grade: 3, 4, 5, 6
Time: 1-2 hours, 2-3 hours
This twenty page photo book tells the story of voting rights in the United States through primary sources housed in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum archives and in other collections. Includes questions and links to additional resources.
Resource Guides / Packets
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 0-1 hour, 1-2 hours
Bring the pivotal events of the civil rights movement in 1963 to life for your students through more than 230 primary sources ranging from film footage of the March on Washington and letters from youth advising the president to JFK’s landmark address to the American people and secret recordings of behind-the-scenes negotiations on civil rights legislation. To foster your students' understanding of this era, lesson plans on each of the seven topics are available in the "For Educators" section of…
Online Exhibits and Digital Interactives
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
This interactive picture book about cellist Pablo Casals's historic performance portrays the importance of the arts in the Kennedy White House, and the power of music to strengthen commitments to peace and freedom.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: The Arts, Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 0-1 hour
If you are elected to the nation's highest office, what are you actually expected to do? Spend a day at the White House with John F. Kennedy to learn about some of the president's most important roles and responsibilities.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 3-4 hours
Students examine primary source material to learn how the tools of democracy have been used to challenge racial discrimination in voting. Includes "The Most Powerful and Precious Right": A Voting Rights Photo Book and a research activity on current voting rights.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: Civics and US Government, English Language Arts, US History
Grade: 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 2-3 hours
Kennedy challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good. After analyzing the "ask what you can do" quote, students draw and write about their own contributions to their families and communities.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: Civics and US Government, English Language Arts
Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Time: 1-2 hours
Students can use outlines of astronauts to make one-of-a-kind portrait collages.
Hands-On History Activities
Subject: US History
Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Time: 0-1 hour
Students can learn how to suit up for space, and then color a spacesuit and create an astronaut puppet.
Hands-On History Activities
Subject: US History
Grade: 1, 2, 3
Time: 0-1 hour
Explore photographs that focus on the Kennedys and baseball.
Media Galleries
Subject: US History
Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Written for upper elementary to adult readers, this narrative summarizes the life and legacy of Jacqueline B. Kennedy.
Resource Guides / Packets
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Written for upper elementary to adult readers, this narrative summarizes the life and legacy of the 35th president of the United States.
Resource Guides / Packets
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Students learn about gender discrimination in space exploration by analyzing a letter to President Kennedy from a female aviator training to be an astronaut.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Subject: English Language Arts, US History
Grade: 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 0-1 hour, 1-2 hours
Explore photographs that relate to the construction of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Media Galleries
Subject: The Arts, Civics and US Government
Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Students can create their own campaign buttons to support a candidate or a cause of their choice.
Hands-On History Activities
Subject: Civics and US Government, US History
Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Time: 0-1 hour
Civics for All of US is a new national civic education initiative from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Legislative Archives and the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. As part of this initiative, the education team at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Legislative Archives and educators across the National Archives will be providing teachers with programming, curricula, and exceptional field trip…
Guided Programs
Subject: Civics and US Government
Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Time: 0-1 hour
By examining photographs of less well-known civil rights activists and learning how they used the tools of democracy to fight for justice and equality, students discover what led President Kennedy to deliver his Televised Address to the Nation on Civil Rights. In a final activity, students reflect on a local, national, or international issue of concern and identify a civic action they can take to help address it.
Guided Programs
Subject: Civics and US Government, English Language Arts, US History
Grade: 3, 4, 5, 6
Time: 1-2 hours
Students can explore late eighteenth-century America in style by making their own tricorn hat and a cravat to match the popular colonial and federal style worn by presidents — including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson — as well as many colonials and founding leaders.
Hands-On History Activities
Subject: US History
Grade: 1
Time: 0-1 hour