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Education > Curriculum Units: Dreams
of a Barefoot Boy > Learning Activities
Curriculum
Units
Dreams
of a Barefoot Boy: 1890 - 1911
LEARNING
ACTIVITIES
- Create a time
line from 1890 to 1911. On one side, write in the main events in Dwight
Eisenhower’s boyhood. On the other side write in major historical
events of your state, the United States, or the world.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
was often praised for his fine character. Identify examples of core
character traits demonstrated by Dwight D. Eisenhower from Dreams
of a Barefoot Boy.
- Investigate
the history of your own community about 1900. How does it compare
to Abilene, Kansas, at that time? Make a comparative table that contrasts
at least four different ideas.
- Choose one of
the five themes from Dreams of a Barefoot Boy. For example,
you might choose "School & Education." Compare school
in 1900 with school today.
- Interview a
person who grew up in a generation before you. Use one or more of
the five themes of Dreams of a Barefoot Boy as a guide to writing
your interview questions.
- Learn more about
and practice Spencerian script. Online bookstores have a number of
instructional books. Also, try this web site: www.spencerian.com.
- Locate a copy
of the poem, "The Barefoot Boy." Eisenhower referred to
himself as a "barefoot boy." After reading the poem, explain
why this expression appealed to him.(Rudyard Kipling’s "If"
was also a favorite poem of Dwight D. Eisenhower.)
- List geographic
locations mentioned in At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends.
On outline maps of the United States and/or Kansas, locate and label
these places.
- Research and
sing some of the popular songs of 1900. Visit this web site to begin:
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sheetmusic/timeline.html
- Find out more
about the history of Kansas at this site: http://www.cc.ukans.edu/carrie/kancoll/.
- Tour a historic
home in your community that dates back to about 1900. Compare what
you see with what you’ve learned about homes of this era. Investigate
vintage clothing and microfilmed newspapers of this period in history.
- Locate common
household tools from 1900. Flea markets, estate sales, garage sales,
and attics or basements are good places to begin. For each, record
the name, date, and its purpose, and find out how it worked.
- As you work
on Dreams of a Barefoot Boy, make a list of the features (streets,
homes and buildings, railroad tracks, bridges, creeks, etc.) of Abilene.
Use the 1901 map of Abilene to identify and label as many features
as you can.
- From the descriptions
in a number of primary sources from this unit, make a diagram of the
Eisenhower home. Make one of your own home. Compare the two diagrams.
- Write a letter
to young Dwight Eisenhower explaining a technology you use today.
Explain how it works, and tell why it is an important part of your
life in 1999. It’s 1900 so use words he’ll understand.
- Research American
architectural design about 1900. In your own community, take photographs
of historic buildings that are examples of what you’ve learned. Create
an exhibit, slide show, PowerPoint presentation, or a walking tour
to display what you have learned.
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