Contextualization

Welcome to our project on the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. This project aims to explore the significant contributions of JFK to American society and the world at large.

John F. Kennedy, often referred to as JFK, was a charismatic and influential leader whose tenure as President was defined by his commitment to civil rights, space exploration, and global peace. He was a president who inspired a generation and left a lasting impact on the nation.

JFK's presidency marked a pivotal time in American history. His administration witnessed the height of the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the beginning of the space race. It was during his presidency that the United States came closest to nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but also witnessed the triumphant moon landing of Apollo 11.

Kennedy's presidency was also marked by his vision of a more equal and just society. He played a key role in advancing the civil rights movement, pushing for legislation that would outlaw racial segregation. Although his efforts were cut short by his assassination, his legacy lived on, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In this project, we will delve into the life of JFK, his significant contributions, and the impact of his presidency. We will also explore the historical context of his presidency and the key events that shaped his time in office.

To begin your exploration, here are some resources that you can use as a starting point:

1. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
2. The American Presidency Project: John F. Kennedy
3. John F. Kennedy - Facts, Presidency & Assassination - HISTORY
4. John F. Kennedy: Biography, Facts, Presidency, & Assassination | Britannica
5. The JFK Years

Remember, the goal of this project is not just to learn about JFK's life and presidency, but to also understand his impact on American history and his enduring legacy. Through this project, we hope to inspire you to dig deeper into the history of your own nation's leaders and to reflect on the qualities of leadership that can bring about positive change in society.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "The Legacy of JFK: From Camelot to the Moon"

Objective of the Project:

The objective of this project is to engage students in a comprehensive exploration of the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy. Students will examine JFK's major policies and initiatives, assess their impacts, and understand how they shaped American society and the world today. The project will also enable students to develop essential skills such as research, critical thinking, collaboration, and presentation.

Detailed Description of the Project:

The project will be divided into three main parts:

1. Research and Report on JFK's Presidency: Students will conduct research on JFK's presidency, focusing on key policies and initiatives such as civil rights, the space program, and foreign policy. They will analyze the context of these policies, their implementation, and their impacts. Each group will prepare a detailed report on their findings.

2. Role Play: Cabinet Meeting: Each group will participate in a role play where they assume the roles of JFK's Cabinet members. They will discuss and debate major issues and decisions of JFK's presidency. This activity will help students understand the complexity of decision-making at the presidential level and the importance of teamwork and collaboration in governance.

3. Creation of a Digital Timeline: Each group will create a digital timeline of JFK's presidency using an online tool like Timeline JS. The timeline should include key events, policies, and initiatives of JFK's presidency, along with relevant images and videos. The timeline will serve as a visual presentation of their research and understanding of JFK's presidency.

Necessary Materials:

• Internet access for research
• Access to online tools for creating the digital timeline
• Presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.) for the report and role play

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying Out the Activity:

1. Form Groups and Assign Roles: Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students. Each group should assign roles for the Cabinet meeting (e.g., Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, etc.).

2. Research JFK's Presidency: Each group should conduct research on JFK's presidency, focusing on key policies and initiatives. They should analyze the context, implementation, and impacts of these policies and prepare a detailed report.

3. Prepare for the Cabinet Meeting: Each group should prepare for the role play by discussing and debating major issues and decisions of JFK's presidency from the perspective of their assigned roles.

4. Conduct the Cabinet Meeting: Each group will participate in the role play, discussing and debating major issues and decisions of JFK's presidency.

5. Create the Digital Timeline: Each group should create a digital timeline of JFK's presidency, highlighting key events, policies, and initiatives.

6. Prepare the Final Report: Each group should prepare a final report that includes their research findings, the outcomes of the role play, and a detailed explanation of their digital timeline.

7. Present the Findings: Each group will present their findings to the class, using their report and digital timeline as visual aids.

8. Peer Review: After each presentation, the class will engage in a peer review session where they provide constructive feedback on each group's work.

9. Reflect and Write the Final Document: Based on their research, role play, digital timeline, and peer review, each group will write a final document reflecting on their learning experience and the insights they gained about JFK's presidency.

Project Deliverables:

The project deliverables include:

1. A Detailed Report: The report should include an introduction, methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion. It should provide a comprehensive overview of JFK's presidency, the outcomes of the role play, and the main features of the digital timeline.

2. A Digital Timeline: The timeline should include key events, policies, and initiatives of JFK's presidency, along with relevant images and videos. It should be a visual representation of the group's understanding of JFK's presidency.

3. A Role Play: The role play should demonstrate the group's understanding of the major issues and decisions of JFK's presidency and their ability to work as a team.

4. A Peer Review: Each group should provide constructive feedback on their peers' work.

5. A Final Document: The final document should be a reflective piece that discusses the group's learning experience, the insights they gained about JFK's presidency, and the skills they developed through the project.

By the end of this project, students should have a deep understanding of JFK's presidency, his major policies and initiatives, and their impacts. They should also have developed key skills such as research, critical thinking, collaboration, and presentation.