Creator: JFK Library | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
Recently, a large archive of material has been released by the JFK Library focused on the life of John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline. This site provides contextual information about these newly released records, as well as transcripts of oral history interviews. For example, you can now download previously secret audio recordings that were made during White House meetings, transcripts of oral history interviews with Jacqueline Kennedy, and a rich archive of other materials related to the Kennedy Presidency. This newly released material gives us insight into Kennedy’s brief time as President, including his involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis, his attitudes toward the Cold War relationship with the USSR and the build up of US troops in Vietnam. There are teacher resources and lesson plans that make use of the available archival material.
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 Edge tools <a href="/content/edge.cfm?c=18">reviewed here</a>. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): <a href="/single.cfm?id=18378">Adobe Spark fpr Education</a>, <a href="/single.cfm?id=17166">Zeetings</a>, <a href="/single.cfm?id=17424">Animatron</a>, <a href="/single.cfm?id=18291">Renderforest</a>, and <a href="/single.cfm?id=18390">Beautiful.AI</a>.
At Home
Does your student have an interest in JFK, the Vietnam War, or US history in general? If so, share this site with him or her.
Tags
presidents, vietnam, kennedy, history day,
Subjects
American History, Government/Civics: U.S, History & Culture: Russia, History & Culture: The Americas, History & Culture: World, Social Studies, Social Studies,