Last updated: September 15, 2021
Lesson Plan
Analyzing Photographs of Theodore Roosevelt
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.8, 6-8.WHST.4, 6-8.WHST.6, 6-8.WHST.8
- State Standards:
- New York State & Common Core:
RH.6-8.2
RH.6-8.7
RH.6-8.8
WHST.6-8.4
WHST.6-8.6
WHST.6-8.8 - Thinking Skills:
- Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How does our childhood conditions affect our ability to succeed in life?
Objective
Students will discover how Theodore transformed his body to become the strong individual he became later in life.
students will be able to explain the limitations and benefits Theodore had when he was a child
Students will be able to reflect on their life journey and see how their childhood has impacted who they are today.
Background
Theodore Roosevelt (TR) lived in Manhattan, at 28 E 20th St., from his birth until about 13 years of age. His family, life circumstances, and experiences influenced the adult he eventually became: hunter, rancher, rough rider, politician, family man. This unit, will explore how various aspects of "Teedie" (TR's childhood nickname), suffered from a severe case of asthma. He recalls being given cigars to smoke and black coffee to drink as some of the treatments for asthma. Eventually, TR was challenged by his father, Theodore Roosevelt Senior ("Thee") who tells him he “must make his body.” With a custom made gym constructed on the Piazza outside the nursery at his childhood home, Teedie built his body and went on to live an adventurous life including such activities as boxing, hiking, rowing hunting and exploring.
Preparation
Have multiple copies of each photograph and/or a way to visually display them.
Print enough copies of these worksheets for students:
Photo Analysis worksheet for secondary school students (Archives.gov)
Photo Analysis worksheet for elementary school students (Archive.gov)
Materials
The accompanying worksheet to the "Analyzing Theodore Roosevelt Photographs" for secondary school students.
Download Analyzing TR Photographs Worksheet secondary school
Image of Theodore Roosevelt in 1875 (before college). Age: 17
Download Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, age 17
Photograph of Theodore, age 2.
Download Theodore Roosevelt, age 2
Theodore Roosevelt, circa age 4 (1962)
Download Theodore Roosevelt, age 4.
Theodore Roosevelt circa age 7
Download Theodore Roosevelt, age 7
Theodore Roosevelt (right) standing with Bill Sewall (Left), and Wilmot Dow (middle) in Mattawaumkeag, Maine. (1879)
Download Theodore Roosevelt in Maine
Wilmot Dow (left), Theodore Roosevelt (center) and Bill Sewall (right) standing in photograph. Theodore Roosevelt invested in buying a cattle ranch (Maltese Cross Ranch), and later invested in another ranch: Elkhorn.
Download Theodore Roosevelt in Dakota Territory
Theodore Roosevelt, attended Harvard University from 1876 to 1880. He rowed on the crew team during this time as one of his many activities.
Download TR, Harvard University crew team
Theodore Roosevelt traveled out west to hunt bison, in 1883.
Download TR in buckskin, circa 1884
Theodore ascended to become a colonel for the volunteer regiment called the "Rough Riders" when he fought in the Spanish American War (1898).
TR on horseback during the time he was in the volunteer regiment, "Rough Riders."
President Theodore Roosevelt camped out in Yosemite with John Muir in 1903.
A note to teachers before using this curriculum
An introduction to TR's life from birth to death.
Download Theodore Roosevelt Introduction
Lesson Hook/Preview
The time, circumstances, families and conditions in which individuals are born can all have an affect on the trajectory of their lives. In this lesson students will examine Theodore's successes, and examine how the time period, family, circumstances and conditions with which he was born would limit or benefit his life's trajectory.
Procedure
Engage:
Ask the question: "To what extent, if any, does our childhood define who we become later in life?" Discuss ideas amongst the class, or within small groups. Brainstorm a list of individuals who "overcame the odds" and are successful today. Share and discuss these stories amongst one another or as a class. Ask students what helped/hindered these individuals? How did those individuals define success?
Explore:
Ask students independently or in groups to find stories about Theodore Roosevelt's achievements throughout his life. Discuss as a class what these accompaniments were, and how TR attained them. Did he have to overcome any challenges to do so? If so, what were they? Did he have help along the way? Who supported him?
Explain:
Theodore Roosevelt (T.R.) was an individual who beat the odds as a child and went on to live a strenuous life. Many recognize the adult T.R. as a hunter, statesman, explorer, rough rider, conservationist, and father. However, he was born in 1858, during the Victorian Era in New York City (NYC) with a severe case of asthma and grew up as a sickly child. Imagine the lack of medical knowledge there was in 1858 compared to today! He endured "treatments" like puffing on cigars, drinking black coffee, or being raced down the street in the family buggy to try and force air into his lungs! One day, his father sat him down, challenging him to "build his body." Theodore took this challenge to heart, and began to work out using a custom made gym in on a back patio of his house. Theodore Roosevelt was born into wealth, which allowed "Teedie" (childhood nickname) the best medical treatment. Teedie had opportunities and experiences that other boys in different living situations may have lacked: He went on two grand tours of Europe by the age of 14, summered in Oyster Bay, NY (Long Island), was homes, received private taxidermy lessons, and was able to attend a gym to receive boxing lessons. As a young man, Theodore attended Harvard, traveled across the country to other states (ME, NE), and became a New York Assemblyman by the age of 23. By the age of 43, Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest man to ascend into the Presidency, after his tenure in various political positions. After his Presidency, he took a trip to Africa with his son Kermit, and also explore a tributary to the Amazon River in Brazil! His success throughout his life occurred in part because of his tenacity to pursue to the "strenuous life" and the family and circumstances he was born into.
Elaborate:
Have students apply what they learned about in TR's life, and write a self-reflective piece on how their own childhood (time, circumstances, family, conditions) has affected their lives so far: What has helped or hindered them? What is happening today, and how does it compare to what was happening in TR's days?
Evaluate:
Discussion questions: What helped you to learn today? What did we learn about T.R. and ourselves? What is the most important contributor to success in our own lives?Assessment Materials
Assessment for Analyzing Theodore Roosevelt photographs
Students should complete the analyze a photograph organizer or record their findings using another manner. Students will then compose a 1-page essay comparing their photograph with Theodore’s childhood photographs. Students should conclude their writing with an explanation of how Theodore strengthened himself to become the man in the adult photo.
Enrichment Activities
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Students can put together a short presentation (PowerPoint) comparing the photographs instead of writing an essay.
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Students can create a poster that reflects their findings. (A gallery walk could be implemented).