TeachersFirst John F. Kennedy, Jr. Resources
This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn more about President John F. Kennedy, Jr. and the important events of his presidency, including related projects and classroom activities. Whether you focus on Kennedy for one class or spend an entire unit on U.S. presidents, the ideas included within the "In the Classroom" portion of reviews will launch discussions and meaningful projects for student-centered learning. Find more presidential resources in TeacherFirst's Resources for American Presidents.
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Teaching with Historical Places: Birthplace of John F. Kennedy - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google My Maps reviewed here to virtually visit the birthplace of John F. Kennedy. Students can create a scrapbook of JFK and his life with Book Creator reviewed here. Students can use Lino reviewed here to post questions that they have as they are learning about the upbringing of President Kennedy.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Lesson Plans and Educational Resources - The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Students can reenact the 1960 election debate. Students can use Canva Edu reviewed here to create a mock ballot to practice voting in an election. Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast President Kennedy to other historical figures.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F. Kennedy Lesson Plan - Guess or Mess
Grades
3 to 5tag(s): civil rights (218), cold war (37), critical thinking (163), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Begin the lesson with the interactive trivia game "Guess or Mess: John F. Kennedy" Video Game to introduce students to key facts about JFK's life and presidency in a fun, game-show format that sparks curiosity. Have students complete a K-W-L chart (Know, Want to Know, Learned) before, during, and after the lesson to track their learning and guide classroom discussions actively. Using the provided digital biography book, guide students through a close reading activity where they highlight major events in JFK's life, then create a visual timeline using Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here to organize and summarize key milestones.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
K to 1tag(s): civics (127), civil rights (218), politics (123), presidents (149), speeches (23)
In the Classroom
Assign students roles such as JFK, civil rights leaders, members of Congress, or local activists. Have students participate in a simulated 1960s roundtable debate on federal civil rights action, using evidence from the lesson to support their viewpoints. Have students write a short essay or record a podcast using Acast, reviewed here responding to the question: "To what extent did JFK support civil rights, and what were the limits of his leadership?" Doing this allows them to synthesize information and form evidence-based conclusions. Students can compare JFK's civil rights speeches to those of other leaders (e.g., MLK Jr. or Malcolm X), analyzing tone, purpose, and impact. They can record their findings in a Venn diagram on paper or digitally using Canva's Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F. Kennedy- Free Lesson Plans - Mr. Donn
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): civil rights (218), cold war (37), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Have students use the website to research key events in JFK's life and presidency, then create illustrated timelines highlighting major milestones, such as the Space Race, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and civil rights initiatives. They can create a timeline of these events using MyLens, reviewed here or Sutori, reviewed here. Use the facts and activities on the page to host a classroom quiz game with Wayground, reviewed here or Blooket, reviewed here. Students can compete in teams to answer questions about JFK's background, accomplishments, and historical significance. Students can create a 1960s-style newspaper front page covering a major event during JFK's presidency using Canva Edu, reviewed here. Have them write articles, draw political cartoons, and design headlines based on their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Changing Planet - NBC Universal Media, LLC
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): arctic (34), climate change (112), diseases (59), glaciers (18), mountains (10), oceans (139), scientific method (48), statistics (128), STEM (340), temperature (34), trees (19), tundra (13), water (101)
In the Classroom
Place the URL to Changing Planet on your classroom website or blog for students to explore the videos on their own. Flip your instruction and assign the videos to your scientists to watch before class. Flipping will maximize classroom time. Encourage budding scientists to investigate climate change. Use this site as a springboard for individual or group projects that connect to our world today. Have students create presentations to share what they learned using a tool such as Powtoon, reviewed here. Build student's background knowledge by watching the videos, and reviewing nonfiction reading strategies with students before reading the transcripts. Use the videos on Changing Planet to help struggling readers with the content on the cue cards. Encourage your scientists to tackle the topic of climate for a science fair experiment or graduation project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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JFK Assassination Timeline - Washington Post
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): 1960s (55), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
This site is ideal for an interactive whiteboard or projector. Open the site and view together as a class during a study of the presidents or elections. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast presidential security for JFK to today's president. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here. Have them create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook from the perspective of John Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, or a Secret Service agent documenting the day's events.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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JFK American Experience - PBS American Experience
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): 1960s (55), civil rights (218), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
The 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy provides an opportunity to refresh students' knowledge of JFK as a man and a President. What important policy innovations can we attribute to his Presidency? How might the remainder of the turbulent decade of the 1960s have been different had he lived? And from a different perspective, while we all want to romanticize the legacy of "Camelot" and the glamour of the Kennedy family, what were his failings? This site provides some rich primary sources to include in a discussion of the Kennedy Presidency, as well as a brief preview of the American Experience film itself. Whether you choose to view the episode with your class or not, you are certain to obtain excellent information at this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Presidential Classroom - Miller Center, University of Virgina
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): jefferson (20), kennedy (26), lincoln (65), presidents (149), space (238), vietnam (40), washington (33), white house (13)
In the Classroom
If your students do Presidential biographies or projects, this is a perfect site to share. Have students explore the exhibits while doing research on presidents and historical events. Enhance student learning by having students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here. Have students use Fakebook,reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a president.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cuban Missile Crisis - Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site (or save it in your favorites). Use the resources for any unit that includes the Cuban Missile Crisis, presidents, or John F. Kennedy. Watch videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share a link on your class website for students to view at home. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about any of the characters involved with the crisis. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare the point of view of the U.S. vs Cuba or to compare outcomes based on possible decisions made during the crisis.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F Kennedy Curricular Resources - John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Grades
K to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), 1970s (30), civil rights (218), cold war (37), kennedy (26), presidents (149), vietnam (40)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this resource for use when teaching about John F Kennedy, the presidency, Civil Rights, or the Vietnam War. Share with teachers at other grade levels (k-12) for use with lesson planning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F Kennedy Lesson - Sean Banville
Grades
3 to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): 1960s (55), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Although quite simple, these activities are excellent starting points and ideas for use with any John F. Kennedy or presidents unit. Use the homework ideas for in or out of class activities. Enhance student learning by challenging them to create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, exchange pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Webnode, reviewed here. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to replace pen and paper with a blog using edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The President's Desk - John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), civil rights (218), kennedy (26), presidents (149), vietnam (40)
In the Classroom
Use the President's Desk as a highly engaging resource for getting to know more about John F. Kennedy's presidency. Show on your interactive whiteboard or projector and include suggested lesson activities to accompany the site. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about John F Kennedy. Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here). Be sure to add a link to the site on your class website for students to access on their own or from home. Have your class create a presidential desk for another historic leader, creating their own annotated photo of the desktop using Google Drawings, reviewed here, to explain the items on the desk. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Who Was Lee Harvey Oswald? - PBS - Frontline
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Students are often fascinated by conspiracy theories, and the mystery of whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone or was part of a larger plot to kill the President represents one of US history's most enduring. Certainly the site will be useful in a discussion of the event itself. However, it can be used more generally as a springboard for discussion of conspiracy theories themselves. See the lesson ideas in the Teachers Guide section. What evidence do we require to decide if something is true or not? Who can be trusted to tell the story of an emotional event? Is "seeing" always "believing"? How can resolve the fact that eyewitnesses do not all have the same recollection of the event? Have your gifted and highly able students do a special project investigating conspiracy theories in history and sharing them as a role play or video for the rest of the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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50th Anniversary of JFK Assassination - Associated Press
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), kennedy (26), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
This site represents a good "quick access" point for photos related to the JFK assassination. Use them to illustrate a discussion of the event, or consider asking students to analyze the perspective presented in the photos. What is the photo communicating? How have these photos influenced the way we remember this important event? Students might be asked to compare the photographic "evidence" that was part of the investigation of this crime with the resources that are available today when a similar incident occurs. For example, how is this documentation different from that which was used to identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects? In English class, use the photos as prompts for students to write informational texts about the Kennedy Assassination in journalistic or historic styles. Since there is such fascination with the Kennedy assassination, you could use this as a chance to discuss purpose and audience, writing to spin the same information several ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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White House Tapes - The President Calling - American Radio Works
Grades
8 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): kennedy (26), presidents (149), vietnam (40)
In the Classroom
Include the tapes and transcripts as part of any unit involving the 1960's, Vietnam, presidents, and more. Have students create timelines with music, photos, videos, and more using Timeline JS, reviewed here, and include information gathered on the audio tapes. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about characters involved in the audio tapes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History Labs - A Guided Approach to Historical Inquiry in the K-12 Classroom - UMBC Center for History Education
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): african american (120), american revolution (86), civil rights (218), civil war (142), colonial america (96), colonization (21), great depression (32), iran (8), jefferson (20), kennedy (26), native americans (131), roosevelt (17), slavery (78), washington (33), womens suffrage (64), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site for use with any American History topic as a complete lesson or to offer another angle on current lessons. Enhance learning by having students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage reviewed here. Before beginning a unit, have students brainstorm or collect ideas on a collaborative bulletin board like Stickies.io, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lessons on American Presidents - Sean Banville
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): jefferson (20), kennedy (26), lincoln (65), presidents (149), reading comprehension (143), washington (33)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource to accompany US presidents units or to supplement current materials used in teaching about the presidents. This is a great tool to use in English/language arts class for nonfiction readings. For younger students and weak readers you may want to use an annotation tool tool such as eMargin, reviewed here. If you want to remove distracting advertisements, use a tool such as Readability Test Tool, reviewed here. Print activities and biographies about several different presidents to add to your substitute folder. Share this site with ENL/ELL and Special Education teachers as a resource for materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library - JFK Library
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): 1960s (55), 1970s (30), 20th century (168), history day (39), kennedy (26), presidents (149), vietnam (40)
In the Classroom
All of these topics are of interest to students doing research into 20th century US and international history, and might be particularly useful to students working on in depth projects for National History Day. After researching a specific topic, have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Presentation tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, Vevox, Animatron, Renderforest, and Microsoft PowerPoint Online.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Alan Cooper's Homonym List - Alan Cooper
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): editing (88), homonyms (8), spelling (93), word choice (12), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Challenge your students to use both homonyms in a meaningful sentence. Each word's meaning should be obvious in the context of the sentence. Then give the students a fill in the blank test on the words where they have to choose the correct spelling of the word. Challenge students to put some of the more difficult words/homonyms on a poster using Automotivator, reviewed here. For a creative challenge, have students create simple animations distinguishing the homonyms using one of the animation tools from the TeachersFirst Edge. Award Homonym Oscars for the best animations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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