The White House

The White House is the U.S. President’s residence, and the center of lots of activity over the years. Time to get the inside scoop.

CONNECT:

• See the inside of the White House from top to bottom architecturally at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6hxlThB_o
• Check out the history of the White House at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT5ZsE-o6U4
• Dolly Madison played a significant role in history of the White House; find out the details at https://www.biography.com/people/dolley-madison-9394952
• What’s the Executive Branch, and what does it do? Find out at https://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_index.htm

CREATE:

• Make a trivia game using these fun facts about the White House: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/fun-facts-know-about-white-house-residents/
• Ever wanted to play President for the day? Or for four years? Experience it at https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
• Recreate the White House Easter Egg hunt from now or yester year: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/what-is-the-history-of-the-white-house-easter-egg-roll https://www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll/
• Create your own pop-up White House by following these directions: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/craft-pop-white-house/

CARE:

• Have something to say to the President? Make your voice known at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Learn how you can become a White House intern; it’s never too early to find out how to participate in this leadership program: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/internships/
• The White House supports students’ interest in STEM through its Maker Faire and other efforts; join the movement at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/316486
• Did you know that the cost of preserving and maintaining the historic furnishings and art within the White House Collection isn't covered entirely by public money or by a federally-funded agency? Support the White House History Organization at https://www.whitehousehistory.org/support

CAREERS:

There are hundreds of people who work for the White House: from security to cleaning, from economic advisors to decorators. Of course, there are political jobs – and all of their support staff, as well as thousands of government jobs from Peace Corps to janitors and military to forest rangers. In a way, if you work for the government, you are working for yourself. See some of the opportunities here.

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/government-careers/

https://career.berkeley.edu/Government/Government

https://www.usajobs.gov/

The Mail Must Go Through

Even in the digital age, people around the world send and receive mail. Find out its history and current activities.

CONNECT:

• See the first postage stamp in the world (issued in 1840) and other expensive stamps at http://www.2-clicks-stamps.com/article/rare-postage-stamps.html
• Scented postage stamps? Stamps made from fabric? Glow in the dark stamps? Look at these unusual stamps from around the world: http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/05/peculiar-postage-unusual-stamps-from.html
• See the US postal service at work: http://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/united-states-postal-service-systems-at-work
• This site tells the story of Miss Clara Breed, a librarian who used the mail to keep in close contact with the Japanese American students who were taken to the internment camps. Includes transcripts of 17 letters, photos, and information on post offices in the camps: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/japanese_internment/stamps
• How are stamps designed? Watch the process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KETwb4MLKVI
• Explore 10 interesting facts about the short-lived pony express mail service that helped transform the American West: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-pony-express

CREATE:

• Explore these education kits from the US Postal Service: https://about.usps.com/corporate-social-responsibility/education-kits.htm
• Stamp collecting helps instruct the collector in geography, biography, history, culture and art. Stamps are miniature gateways to the world. See that world at http://arago.si.edu/category_2027477.html
• The Postal Service welcomes written suggestions for stamp subjects that help portray the diversity of the American experience for a worldwide audience. Submit your idea following the directions at https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/csac/process.htm

CARE:

• Send free online greetings and gifts that support wildlife and the environment: http://www.e-cards.com/
• In the past, children could be mailed. Read about some of these real-life deliveries: http://postalmuseumblog.si.edu/2013/02/very-special-deliveries.html
• Join the National Postal Museum in creating a comprehensive history of America’s post and people: http://memorybook.si.edu/

CAREERS:

Mail service is an important communications career. Here are some details.

http://www.federaljobs.net/psclerks.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm