Contextualization

Welcome to a captivating journey through the life, accomplishments, and presidency of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States. Joe Biden's political career spans over four decades, filled with moments of triumph and adversity, which ultimately led him to the White House. Understanding the life and work of a sitting President is not only an engaging exercise in historical context but also a way to understand the world we live in today.

Joe Biden's life story is a testament to resilience, tenacity, and the power of public service. Born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he was the eldest of four children. Biden attended the University of Delaware and Syracuse University Law School before embarking on a career in politics. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, becoming the fifth-youngest senator in history.

During his tenure in the Senate, Biden was known for his expertise in foreign policy and his work on crime prevention and civil liberties. However, his personal life was marked by tragedy when his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident just weeks before Christmas in 1972. Biden was sworn into the Senate from the hospital room where his two sons were recovering from the accident.

In 2008, Biden became the Vice President under Barack Obama, and together they navigated the Great Recession, passed the Affordable Care Act, and oversaw the successful mission to kill Osama bin Laden. After leaving office, Biden remained an active voice in politics, and in 2020, he announced his candidacy for President. In January 2021, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States.

Joe Biden's presidency comes at a pivotal moment in history. The COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, climate change, and economic inequality are just a few of the challenges he faces. Understanding Biden's life, his policy decisions, and his approach to leadership can provide valuable insights into how he might address these issues and shape the future of our nation.

To delve deeper into the fascinating world of Joe Biden, we recommend the following resources:

1. The White House - The official website of the President of the United States. This site provides a wealth of information about President Biden's policy agenda, speeches, and more.
2. Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption by Jules Witcover - This biography offers a comprehensive look at Biden's life and career.
3. The Joe Biden Story - This documentary, available on YouTube, provides an overview of Biden's life and political career.
4. Joe Biden's Vision for America - This page on Biden's campaign website outlines his policy proposals and vision for the future of the United States.

We hope that this project will not only deepen your understanding of Joe Biden but also inspire you to engage with the world around you and think critically about the issues that shape our society.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Joe Biden: A Journey Through His Life and Presidency"

Objective of the Project:

The main objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of Joe Biden's life, political career, and presidency. The project aims to integrate research, analysis, and creative interpretation in order to present a holistic view of the 46th President of the United States.

Detailed Description of the Project:

This project will involve extensive research on Joe Biden, his political career, his policies as President, and the major events that have taken place during his presidency. Each group of students will be tasked with creating a "biography board game" based on Joe Biden's life and presidency. The board game should be engaging, educational, and fun, allowing players to learn about Biden's life in a creative and interactive way.

The project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students, and the estimated time of completion is more than twelve hours per student, spread over two weeks.

Necessary Materials:

• Internet access for research.
• A4 or larger sheets of paper for the board game.
• Pencils, markers, or colored pencils for drawing and writing on the board game.
• Index cards or small slips of paper for game cards.
• Game pieces (can be small objects like buttons or coins).
• Dice.

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

1. Research Phase (4 hours): The first step is to conduct thorough research on Joe Biden's life and presidency. Use the resources provided in the introduction and other reliable sources to gather information. Take notes on key events, policies, and characteristics of his leadership style.

2. Brainstorming and Game Design (4 hours): As a group, brainstorm ideas for your board game. How will players move through the game? What kind of information will be included on the board and game cards? Sketch out a rough design of the board and write down ideas for game cards.

3. Board Game Creation (4 hours): Create your board game based on your design. Be sure to include spaces for players to land on, paths to move along, and any other elements you've planned. Add illustrations, color, and text as appropriate.

4. Game Card Creation (2 hours): Create game cards that players will draw and follow instructions from during the game. Each card should have a question, fact, or action related to Joe Biden's life or presidency.

5. Review and Testing (2 hours): Review your game to make sure it's complete and balanced. Playtest it with your group to ensure the rules are clear and the gameplay is engaging.

6. Preparation of the Written Document (4 hours): After completing the board game, each group should write a detailed report about the project. This report should include the following sections: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Used Bibliography.

• Introduction: Contextualize the theme of the project, its relevance, and real-world application.
• Development: Detail the theory behind the project, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the obtained results.
• Conclusion: Conclude the work by revisiting its main points, explicitly stating the learnings obtained, and the conclusions drawn about the project.
• Bibliography: Indicate the sources that were used to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Project Deliverables:

The deliverables for this project will be:

1. A completed board game based on Joe Biden's life and presidency.
2. A detailed written report following the prescribed structure.
3. A group presentation of the board game, where each group member explains a different aspect of the game (e.g., the rules, the board design, the game cards). The presentation should be approximately 10-15 minutes long.

Project Grading Criteria:

The project will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Comprehensive Research: How well does the board game reflect the key events, policies, and characteristics of Joe Biden's life and presidency?

2. Creativity and Originality: Is the board game design unique, engaging, and well-executed? Are the questions and actions on the game cards interesting and varied?

3. Collaboration and Communication: Did all group members contribute to the project? Is the group presentation clear, well-structured, and engaging?

4. Writing Skills: Is the written report well-structured, clearly written, and free of grammatical errors? Does it accurately reflect the work done on the project?

This project is designed to be challenging and time-consuming, but also rewarding and educational. It will give you the opportunity to dive deep into the life and work of a sitting President, and to practice important skills like research, creativity, teamwork, and communication. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!