1. Learn about the Constitutional provisions for the Presidential Inauguration.

2. Learn the history of the Presidential Inauguration, including changes to the procedure and notable speeches.

3. Work in small groups to analyze President Obama’s first inaugural address and to compare his ideas with the actions of his first term.

4. Have an opportunity to predict the content of President Obama’s second inaugural address on January 21, 2013.

1. For homework, students should read the Inauguration History handout.In class, students can work in groups to answer the Inauguration History worksheet.

2. As a class, students can discuss the answers to the questions. They should focus on the Constitutional issues, such as the oath of office and the 20th Amendment.  Also, they can discuss any of the fun facts that stood out to them.

3. Distribute the text to President Obama’s first inaugural address. If computers are available, students can look up the transcript here.

4. Students should read the inaugural address to themselves. 

5. Then, they can break up into groups of three or four students and answer the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Worksheet.

6. As a class, students can discuss their findings as well as their predictions for the 2013 Presidential Inauguration.

1. Students can watch the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and compare the actual text of President Obama’s speech with their predictions for his speech.

2. Students can look up famous presidential inauguration speeches and compare the language of these historical speeches to President Obama’s 2013 speech. 

1. Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address
2. Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
3. JFK’s Inaugural Address

More information about the 2013 Inauguration can be found at the U.S. government’s official site: http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/