Holiday Traditions at the White House!
An Interactive Notebook Activity
by
Gail Skroback Hennessey
Note:Click here to purchase($1.50) the complete resource:Holiday Traditions at the White House! An Interactive Notebook Activity
In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the custom of a National Christmas Tree.It had 2500 electric lights!
First lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the custom of having a theme for the official White House Christmas tree.
Environmentalist President Theodore Roosevelt didn't approve of cutting a tree down for the Christmas holidays. Because of this, he banned having a Christmas tree in the White House. However, Archie, his son, cut a small tree down and hid it in the closet in the swing room. He also decorated it.
The first president to have electric lights on the family Christmas tree was President Grover Cleveland. The year was 1894.
Did you know that George Washington paid 18 schillings(a lot of money at the time) for someone to bring a camel toMt. Vernon for the Christmas holidays? Ok, Mt. Vernon isn't the White House but I liked this fact. Interestingly, the tradition of having a camel come to Mt. Vernon during the holidays continues to this day!
QUESTIONS:
If you had to create a theme for the official White House Christmas tree, what would you select and why. Draw and picture of your tree.
Which do you think is more environmentally friendly, a REAL or ARTIFICIAL tree? Give 2 reasons for your opinion.
Check out this webquest on Charles Dickens!Charles Dicken's Webquest
 During the holidays is a great time to share with kids the many traditions which have been shared with different cultures. Learn the history behind some popular holiday traditions with this webquest.Holiday Traditions from Around the World(Webquest
 Check out this webquest on the White House!White House Webquest
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Teaching Ideas!
Gail Hennessey