On Monday, September 21, 2013, the Presidential Inauguration will take place in Washington, DC. The theme for the 2013 inauguration is “Faith in America’s Future,” which commemorates our country’s perseverance and unity, marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol dome in 1863. Festivities will occur over four days, including the Presidential Swearing-In Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade, and several inaugural balls and galas honoring the President.
Click here for a guide to the Inauguration Day events.
There are many activities teachers can do with students to acknowledge this important event. Below are a few ideas collected from Education World:
- Conduct research on previous inaugurations by going to “I Do Solemly Swear…” Presidential Inaugurations. Look up historical documents, speeches, photographs, letters, and many other files related to all things inaugurations.
- Write a letter to the president. Have students discuss what goals they hope to see the administration achieve.
- Compare and contrast various inaugural addresses of past presidents across history.
- Compare and contrast poems that Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, and Miller Williams wrote and read at past presidential inaugurations.
- Track media coverage of the presidential inauguration in a variety of types of media. Look at TV, print, online, and social media for research.
- Conduct an Inaugurations Firsts hunt or webquest. Have students look for fascinating firsts and facts about past U.S. presidential inaugurations.
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