Entry #5 Thomas Jefferson

This is a humorous lesson for my second graders which includes facts about Thomas Jefferson who was superbly educated and learned responsibility, good manners, and to be generous.  Thomas Jefferson wanted a government that would interfere as little as possible with people's lives.  People liked him as he cut taxes, reduced the size of the military, and balanced the budget.  He looked for the good in people and appealed to the best interests of the men and women of the country.  One group of Massachusetts Baptists liked him so much they decided to make a cheese for him.  Their minister, John Leland, told everyone in town who liked the president to donate one day's worth of milk.  They mixed up the curds and pressed the cheese in a huge cider press.  When the cheese had dried, it weighed more than 1,600 pounds.  Leland and his neighbors hoisted the cheese onto a sled and he made the 3 week journey to Washington by himself.  When he arrived in Washington, he borrowed 4 horses and a wagon and delivered the cheese straight to the White House.  President Jefferson loved the gift and he stored the cheese in the East Wing for more than a year while people came from all over to admire it.  The cheese was called the "mammoth cheese" and was known to everyone.  Finally, on July 4, 1802,  President Jefferson decided it was time to eat and share the cheese with all his friends and fellow politicians. (Content)
Discuss with students and identify qualities that make a good citizen and qualities that make a good president.  (DOK 1) Have students work with a partner to list these qualities that we want to see in others.  Before reading the story A Big Cheese for the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar by Candace Fleming, ask students to predict what happened in the story by looking at the front cover.  (DOK 2)  (CC 8.5.6-8.D-G) After reading the story, discuss what qualities Thomas Jefferson had as a president and what was the effect they had on the townspeople of Massachusetts.  (DOK 3) What was the author's purpose for writing this story? (CC 8.5.6-8.F) Why did the townspeople feel they wanted to make and send a gift to the president?  Were they grateful to Jefferson and wanted to show their generosity?  Have students apply these qualities and create a gift that they would have given to Jefferson if they were living in that time period.  How would the gift be special to the president and represent something of their individuality?  (DOK 4) (Creative Idea)

Domains: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c