Middle School Programs
Political Cartooning Workshop
Explore the use of humor and satire to comment on current events through political cartoons at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. This four-hour small-group workshop engages students with the Museum like never before. Students will learn about how political issues are represented in the media through cartoons—and have an opportunity to engage in cartooning on their own to reflect their opinions on contemporary issues.
Grades: 6-8; 15 students maximum
Program Lengths: 4 hours
Campaigning with Character
Are your students ready for the upcoming presidential campaign? Help your student understand political commercials through Campaigning with Character. Grounded in President Ford’s 1976 campaign, students will learn about the characteristics of great leaders and how to communicate these characteristics when running for office. Students will explore the Museum, and apply what they have learned by creating a campaign commercial for Ford today. All needed supplies and technology are provided.
Grades: 3-5; 60 students maximum
Program Lengths: 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours
Amending the Constitution
Our nation’s Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification. Help your students understand how the Constitution is amended in this lesson about the 25th Amendment and Equal Rights Amendment, both important to Gerald and Betty Ford’s lives, while giving students a taste of the complexity of the amendment process. Museum exhibits and primary source documents provide students with content and context.
Grades: 6-8; 60 student maximum
Program Length: 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours
Unlocking the Character Code: The Gerald R. Ford BREAKOUT Game
This activity helps students to engage with the Museum in new ways. After a guided tour of the Museum, students work together in teams to solve character-related clues throughout the exhibits in order to unlock a secret code and reap the reward. This activity is great for team-building and developing critical thinking skills. “Unlocking the Character Code” can be added onto one of our other programs, or can serve as a stand-alone experience.
Grades 6-8; 40 student maximum
Program Length: 2 hours or 3 hours
Model of Courage: How First Lady Betty Ford Used Her Voice to Enact Positive Change
Through an interactive Museum tour and exploration of primary sources such as letters and video, students will learn about First Lady Betty Ford’s courage in using her voice to bring awareness to important issues such as health care and women’s rights. Students will then be challenged to use their voices for good as they create their own public service announcements to bring awareness to an issue of importance in today’s world.
Grades: 5-12; 60 student maximum
Program Length: 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours