Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on Calvin Coolidge

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States, serving between 1923 and 1929. He was born in Plymouth, Vermont, on July 4, 1872, the son of a village storekeeper. He graduated from Amherst College with honors, and entered law and politics in Massachusetts. Slowly, he went up the political ladder from councilman in Northampton to Governor of Massachusetts.

One of his first duties as Governor was to deal with the Boston police strike in 1919. He brought in the National Guard and fired all striking officers. Newspapers across the nation reported on his decisive action and gave him the reputation of a strong leader. He became Vice President in 1921 and attended many of President Warren Harding’s cabinet meetings – the first Vice President to do so.

On August 2, 1923, President Harding died suddenly. Coolidge was in Vermont visiting his family. He found out about the President’s death via messenger. He took the oath of office in his family’s home under the light of a kerosene lamp, as they had no electricity. As President, Coolidge promised to preserve the traditional American ways amid the economic prosperity that many Americans were enjoying.

Coolidge was re-elected in 1924 because of what was known as "Coolidge prosperity." In his inaugural speech he stated that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen." He spoke out in favor of the civil rights of African Americans. He became even more popular by lowering taxes. After he left office, he wrote his autobiography in 1929. He died of a heart attack in 1933.

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/calvincoolidge

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States, _____________________ and 1929. He was born in Plymouth, Vermont, on July 4, 1872, the _____________________ storekeeper. He graduated from Amherst College with honors, and entered law and politics in Massachusetts. Slowly, he went up _____________________ from councilman in Northampton to Governor of Massachusetts.

One of his first duties as Governor _____________________ Boston police strike in 1919. He brought in the National Guard and fired all striking officers. Newspapers across the nation _____________________ action and gave _____________________ strong leader. He became Vice President in 1921 and attended many of President Warren Harding’s cabinet meetings – the first Vice President to do so.

On August 2, 1923, President Harding died suddenly. Coolidge was in Vermont visiting his family. _____________________ the President’s death via messenger. He took the oath of office in his family’s home _____________________ kerosene lamp, as they had no electricity. As President, Coolidge promised to _____________________ American ways amid the economic prosperity that many Americans were enjoying.

Coolidge was re-elected in 1924 because of what was known as "Coolidge prosperity." In _____________________ he stated that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen." He _____________________ the civil rights of African Americans. He became even more popular by lowering taxes. After he left office, he _____________________ in 1929. He died of a heart attack in 1933.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States, gnreisv between 1923 and 1929. He was born in Plymouth, Vermont, on July 4, 1872, the son of a village storekeeper. He graduated from Amherst College with honors, and entered law and iltpocis in Massachusetts. Slowly, he went up the ilolcpait ladder from councilman in Northampton to Governor of Massachusetts.

One of his first duties as Governor was to deal with the Boston police treski in 1919. He brought in the National Guard and fired all striking officers. Newspapers across the nation reported on his decisive action and gave him the rnoeatuipt of a strong leader. He became Vice President in 1921 and attended many of President Warren Harding’s cabinet enseitgm – the first Vice President to do so.

On August 2, 1923, President Harding died esdylndu. Coolidge was in Vermont visiting his family. He found out about the President’s death via messenger. He took the oath of fofcie in his family’s home under the light of a kerosene lamp, as they had no electricity. As President, Coolidge promised to preserve the traditional American ways amid the oemcinco prosperity that many Americans were enjoying.

Coolidge was re-elected in 1924 because of what was known as "Coolidge prosperity." In his inaugural secphe he stated that the country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen." He spoke out in favor of the civil gstrhi of African Americans. He became even more popular by lorwneig taxes. After he left office, he wrote his autobiography in 1929. He died of a heart attack in 1933.

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States, serving between 1923 and 1929. He was born in Plymouth, Vermont, on July 4, 1872, the son of a village storekeeper. with He from College honors graduated Amherst, and entered law and politics in Massachusetts. Slowly, he went up in councilman from ladder political the Northampton to Governor of Massachusetts.

One of his first to was Governor as duties the with deal Boston police strike in 1919. He brought in the National Guard and fired all striking officers. across nation on Newspapers the reported his decisive action and gave him the reputation of a strong leader. He attended and 1921 in President Vice became many of President Warren Harding’s cabinet meetings – the first Vice President to do so.

On August 2, 1923, President Harding died suddenly. Coolidge was in Vermont visiting his family. He found out about the President’s death via messenger. He his in office of oath the took family’s under home lamp kerosene a of light the, as they had no electricity. As President, Coolidge promised to preserve the traditional that ways the prosperity American amid economic many Americans were enjoying.

Coolidge was re-elected in 1924 because of what was known as "Coolidge prosperity." stated he speech inaugural his In the that country had achieved "a state of contentment seldom before seen." spoke favor civil He in the of out of rights African Americans. He became more by taxes even popular lowering. After he left office, he wrote his autobiography in 1929. He died of a heart attack in 1933.

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Calvin Coolidge in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about Calvin Coolidge for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about Calvin Coolidge. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Calvin Coolidge. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. CALVIN COOLIDGE POSTER Make a poster about Calvin Coolidge. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY CALVIN COOLIDGE LESSON: Make your own English lesson on Calvin Coolidge. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on Calvin Coolidge. Share your findings with the class.