Get high school historians to step outside their own shoes by responding to JFK's inaugural address from the perspective of a civil rights activist, a soviet diplomat, or a Cuban exile. After a class discussion about the address, the final assessment is a writing to JFK expressing one's thoughts from the perspective of the chosen role. 

Concepts

john f. kennedy, presidential inaugurations, civic duty, civics, role playing

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• There are other roles that could be provocative to include as options (e.g. Nixon supporter)
• If able, have participants watch a video of the inaugural address to see how Kennedy delivered the speech

Classroom Considerations

• The address, while short, is dense and can be difficult for some readers; encourage slow, close reading and ensure vocabulary comprehension

Pros

• A thoughtful example of using role-play as a way to see how different audiences might respond to the same speech
• The timeline and historical background help to set the stage for the address

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.10