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Exploring Mount Rushmore: An American Landmark – Introduction to American symbols – Mount Rushmore’s significance – A monument to four U.S. presidents carved into a mountain – Recognizing famous landmarks – Examples: Statue of Liberty, White House – Engage with class activity – Ask students to name landmarks or symbols they know | This slide is designed to introduce second-grade students to the concept of American symbols and landmarks, with a focus on Mount Rushmore. Begin by discussing the importance of symbols and landmarks in representing a country’s history and values. Explain that Mount Rushmore is a symbol of American leadership and democracy, featuring the carved faces of four significant presidents. Encourage students to think of other landmarks or symbols they may know, such as the Statue of Liberty or the White House, to create a connection with the topic. The class activity involves students sharing their knowledge of American symbols, fostering a collaborative and interactive learning environment. This activity will help assess their prior knowledge and get them excited about learning more about Mount Rushmore and other American symbols.

Exploring Mount Rushmore – Mount Rushmore represents history – It’s a tribute to American leaders and their achievements – Located in South Dakota – In the Black Hills region, a place with beautiful nature – Shows faces of four presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln are featured – A symbol of democracy | Mount Rushmore is an iconic national monument that symbolizes the rich history of the United States and its commitment to democracy. It’s carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest. The monument features the 60-foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Each of these presidents was chosen for their significant contributions to the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the country. This slide aims to introduce second-grade students to the significance of Mount Rushmore and its role as an American symbol. Encourage the students to think about why these particular presidents might have been chosen and what qualities they showed that made them important leaders in American history.

The Presidents on Mount Rushmore – George Washington, First President – Known as the ‘Father of Our Country’ – Thomas Jefferson, Third President – Author of the Declaration of Independence – Theodore Roosevelt, Twenty-sixth President – Known for the Panama Canal and National Parks – Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President – Led the nation during the Civil War | This slide introduces the four presidents featured on Mount Rushmore, highlighting their significant contributions to American history. George Washington is recognized for his leadership in the founding of the nation. Thomas Jefferson is celebrated for writing the Declaration of Independence and his influence on democracy. Theodore Roosevelt is remembered for his conservation efforts and the Panama Canal. Abraham Lincoln is honored for his leadership during the Civil War and his dedication to preserving the Union. These leaders were chosen to be immortalized in stone for their roles in shaping the United States. Encourage students to discuss what qualities make a good leader and why these presidents might have been selected for Mount Rushmore.

The Importance of Mount Rushmore – Symbol of American history – Represents the first 150 years of the USA with 4 presidents. – National gathering place – People from everywhere visit to see and learn. – Learning about Presidents – Features Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. – Celebrating 150 years of America | Mount Rushmore is a significant symbol of American history, representing the first 150 years of the nation’s existence. The monument features the faces of four influential U.S. Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, each of whom played a pivotal role in shaping the country. It serves as a place of learning and a gathering spot for visitors from across the nation, promoting unity and a shared sense of history. When discussing this slide, emphasize the importance of these presidents and how Mount Rushmore commemorates their contributions to America. Encourage students to think about what these leaders did for the country and why we honor them in this way.

How was Mount Rushmore Created? – Carved into a mountain face – Mount Rushmore is made of granite, a very hard rock. – Work span: 1927 to 1941 – It took 14 years to complete the monument. – Created by Gutzon Borglum – Gutzon Borglum was the lead sculptor. – Assisted by his son, Lincoln – Lincoln Borglum helped his father finish the project. | Mount Rushmore is a monumental sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore, a mountain in South Dakota. The work began in 1927 and was completed in 1941, spanning 14 years. It was created by the sculptor Gutzon Borglum and later, his son Lincoln Borglum, continued the work. This slide aims to give students a brief history of how Mount Rushmore came to be. It’s important to highlight the dedication and effort that went into creating this national monument. You can discuss the process of carving such a large sculpture and the types of tools that might have been used. Encourage students to think about the patience and skill required for such a task.

Fun Facts About Mount Rushmore – Presidents’ noses are huge! – Each nose on Mount Rushmore is 20 feet long! – Over 2 million visitors yearly – People from all over come to see the monument. | This slide is designed to spark the interest of second-grade students by sharing fun and easily relatable facts about Mount Rushmore. Emphasize the size of the presidents’ noses by comparing them to something familiar, like a school bus, which is also about 20 feet long. Highlight the monument’s popularity by equating the number of visitors to a vast number of school buses filled with people, helping them visualize the crowd. These facts can lead to a discussion about the significance of Mount Rushmore as a national monument and its role in American culture and history. Encourage the students to imagine what it would be like to visit and see the massive sculpture in person.

Class Activity: Create Your Own Monument – Think of an important person – Draw their face on a mountain – Share your choice with the class – Explain why they’re important | This activity is designed to help students connect personally with the concept of monuments and the significance of Mount Rushmore. Encourage the children to think of someone they look up to; it could be a family member, a historical figure, or even a fictional character. Provide them with drawing materials to illustrate their chosen person as a monument on a mountain. After they complete their drawings, create a sharing circle where each student can talk about their chosen person and explain why they are important to them. This will foster a sense of community and allow students to practice public speaking. Possible variations of the activity could include creating a clay model, using construction paper for a collage, or even writing a short paragraph about the person if they prefer not to draw.