Teaching the Inauguration

Teaching kids about Inauguration Day doesn't have to be boring! Getting students, especially middle schoolers, excited about democracy takes more than just dates and facts.

Let's be real: your students are probably already seeing inauguration stuff all over TikTok and Instagram. Why not use that as your starting point? I love asking my kids what they've heard about inaugurations - sometimes their answers make me laugh, but they always lead to great discussions.

Want to really grab their attention? Pull up some footage of past inaugurations. There's something powerful about watching JFK's "ask not what your country can do for you" moment or seeing Obama take that historic oath. My students are always amazed at how different (and sometimes how similar!) these ceremonies look across the decades. I was a second-year teacher during Obama's second term, and while I did my best to keep my political views to myself, my students were determined to figure it out...even to the point that they were analyzing my clothing to see if the blue scarf I had on was a nod to my liberal roots, or if the purple I wore the next day was about the spirit of bipartisanship (gotta love teaching gifted kids!).

Teaching Ancient History and then transitioning to current events can be a bit of a challenge. The good news is that most states have the requirement to teach primary sources....and what can be more primary than watching an event as it unfolds?

Some of my favorite class discussions have started with simple questions like "Why do we make such a big deal out of this ceremony?" or "How different would inaugurations be if social media existed 200 years ago?" or even "What sort of things would the Mesopotamians or Ancient Egyptians include if they were having a similar ceremony?" The conversations that follow are pure gold.

Not a history teacher? Not a problem! You can sneak inauguration content into pretty much any subject. Need a math lesson? Break down inauguration attendance numbers. Teaching weather patterns? Look at how many presidents took their oath in the snow!

My absolute favorite activity is asking students to imagine their own first 100 days as president. Their ideas range from hilarious to surprisingly insightful - and it gets them thinking about what leadership really means.

Feeling overwhelmed with all this? I've got your back! I've put together a complete lesson package that's ready to go for grades 5-8. No prep needed - just print and teach.

Remember, when we teach kids about Inauguration Day, we're not just covering some required civics lesson. We're showing them what makes democracy tick. And hey, if we can make it fun along the way? Even better!

What inauguration activities have worked in your classroom? Drop a comment below - I'd love to hear your ideas!