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# Explore the Eisenhower Home

Eisenhower National Historic Site

                      Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

                      - Subject:
                      - Social Studies
                      - Common Core Standards:
                      - 6.SL.1.c, 6.SL.1.d, 6.SL.2, 6.SL.3, 6.SL.4, 6.SL.6, 7.SL.1, 7.SL.1.a, 7.SL.1.b, 7.SL.1.c, 7.SL.1.d, 7.SL.2, 7.SL.3, 7.SL.4, 7.SL.6, 8.SL.1, 8.SL.1.a, 8.SL.1.b, 8.SL.1.c, 8.SL.1.d, 8.SL.2, 8.SL.3, 8.SL.4, 8.SL.6, 9-10.SL.1, 9-10.SL.1.a, 9-10.SL.1.b, 9-10.SL.1.c, 9-10.SL.1.d, 9-10.SL.2, 9-10.SL.3, 9-10.SL.4, 9-10.SL.6, 11-12.SL.1, 11-12.SL.1.a, 11-12.SL.1.b, 11-12.SL.1.c, 11-12.SL.1.d, 11-12.SL.2, 11-12.SL.3, 11-12.SL.4, 11-12.SL.6

Program Overview
Join a NPS ranger to explore the historic Eisenhower home in this new, interactive student education program. In this program, students have the opportunity to use the Eisenhower home as a primary source to learn about who Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower were as people. Students will also be able to analyze and discuss the leadership traits which Dwight Eisenhower possessed. To explore the Eisenhower home, students are split into groups and given places or objects to find inside the house. After finding their item or room, students answer questions about that place, then later reconvene as a class to discuss what they found and what they learned.About the Eisenhower Home: In 1950, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower bought the only home they would ever own, right here in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When Dwight Eisenhower was elected president, their Gettysburg farm became a weekend getaway for he and the First Lady. The Eisenhowers also brought numerous world leaders to their home as well! This house is a unique place to learn about the history of the Eisenhowers and the world in which they lived.
Theme
The Eisenhower home provides a window into the lives and characteristics of the Eisenhower family, showing us the private side of Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of the great leaders of the 20th century.
Essential Questions
What do the places where we live say about us?What qualities make someone a good leader?What can others learn about leadership by studying our lives?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Define at least two of Eisenhower's leadership qualities
- Find, identify, and analyze at least one item or room in the Eisenhower home
- Understand at least one major job done by the President of the United States
- Understand the role leaders play in a democratic society
Grade Level
6-12 This program can also accommodate youth groups and boy-scouts, depending on staff availability.
Class Size
Up to 40 students
Program Length
60-120 minutes (Program length is dependent on the size of the group, timely arrival on-site, and staffing). 
Contact Us
For more information, including how to schedule this program, contact us here. 

### Materials

This document contains images of rooms and objects inside the Eisenhower home and accompanying questions for each. These will be handed out to students at the start of the ranger program.

Download Eisenhower Home Scavenger Hunt

As background reading, this excerpt from Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoir discusses how and why the Eisenhowers purchased their Gettysburg Farm. 

Download Excerpt from "At Ease" by Dwight D. Eisenhower

**Tags: **historic homeseisenhowereisenhower national historic sitegeneral eisenhowerpresident eisenhowerpresidential homesfirst ladiesmamie eisenhowerdwight d. eisenhowergettysburgprimary sourceprimary source documentsscavenger hunt

## Lesson Plans

Last updated: April 23, 2024

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