Published by Candlewick Press in 2008
Awards: Teacher’s
Choice List 2009
Suggested Delivery:
Read-AloudReading Level:
Grade Level: 5th - 6th
Key Words:
1.
White House
2.
American History
3.
Presidents
4.
Behind the Scenes
5.
Non-Fiction
Vocabulary:
malarial (1), persnickety (2), impeccable (2), inclinations (5), sardonic (94),
commissioned (71), inhabitants (123)
Summary: Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
is a compilation of historical documents and autobiographical pieces, which
share many perspectives on life in the White House. This book with over a
hundred contributors, covers the complete history of the US, it’s most
important events and leaders, as well as gives insight into the lives of
lesser-known individuals who also worked in this world-renowned building. In
the end, readers come to realize the symbolism that this little house on 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue has throughout the entire country, and the world beyond it.
Before: Excerpts
of this book should in shared in conjunction with Social Studies lessons on
specific periods of history. For the time period being studied, students should
create a KWL as a class. Before reading, the class should brainstorm about what
they know about the general time period as well as what is happening in the
White House. Categories of information to consider are:
·
What is happening in the country at this time:
war, peace, economic boom or bust
·
Who is living in the White House (President, his
cabinet, White House workers)
·
What is the meaning/significance of the White
House? What does it represent?
During: Use
excerpts such as, “The White House First Residents”, “Slaves Helped Build the
White House”, and the “Testimony of Padraig Tomas O’Deorain” to make a chart
recording the various experiences and thoughts of each individual in the early
days of the White House. What were their opinions on it’s meaning, how did it’s
presence effect them?
After: Have a
class discussion on the similarities between the seemingly diverse individuals
we read about. Are there things about the White House that is significant to
all of them? What can we conclude about the symbolism of the White House to the
American people as a whole?
Writing: Pick a
person whose perspective you’ve read about in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. Using resources from the
library, do more research on his/her role in history. What is their
significance, and why is their perspective particularly interesting to you?
Electronic Resources:
This website is the homepage for this particular
book. It includes further background on the authors and more information on the
subject matter:
This website has information about the book’s making, as well as includes activities and further electronic links for students to use when learning about the Presidency:
Our White House:
Looking In, Looking Out. (2008). Cambridge: Candlewick Press.
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