President Kennedy Source Review | Primary Sources of JFK Assassination

Description

Study nonfiction sources written at the time of President Kennedy’s death. These activities ask students to study various sources at the time of President Kennedy’s assassination. Students can derive conclusions about the famous American event by analyzing different primary sources.

Overview of this activity covering President Kennedy:

This nonfiction reading response activity includes links to nonfiction articles and videos for a complete lesson about President Kennedy’s assassination. This bundle includes close reading options, writing prompts, extension activities, and a complete lesson plan.

Specific perspectives for this primary source activity:

This specific nonfiction reading response activity asks students to look at different perspectives from people who were involved in history on November 22, 1963.

Students will read articles and watch videos from:

√ the doctor who took care of President Kennedy

√ a grave digger at Arlington National Cemetery

√ Mrs. Johnson

√ Mrs. Connally

Students will consider these different perspectives and write about what details were emphasized by each perspective.

This nonfiction reading response activity engages students because they are curious about America’s reactions, the conspiracy theories, and the popularity of President Kennedy. Students become very involved with the discussion and reading.

Details of this primary source activity:

→Detailed lesson plans for the articles and writing assignment. Includes the links to the articles, video, and extension activities.

→Questions specific to the article and graphic organizers for analyzing differing perspectives of that day.

→Instructional sheets for the students for crafting a mature nonfiction reading response.

→A rubric for grading written responses.

The lesson plan is designed for flexibility. It takes me five days to complete all the nonfiction activities and have students write their responses. You could add a day (I’ve included extension activities) or take a day away if you wanted to assign homework.