Roosevelt was a member of the Rough Riders, a group of volunteer soldiers who fought at San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. Ask your students to work in groups to create a presentation about the Rough Riders. Encourage them to find photographs of the Rough Riders and to learn about other members of the group. Show the students how to research the major battles the Rough Riders were involved with. Help the students create a map to show where the Rough Riders fought.
Theodore Roosevelt is responsible for the federal protection of many of America's national forests, national monuments, national forests and wildlife refuges. Encourage your students to learn more about Roosevelt's conservation efforts and their impact on America today. Ask the students to research a national forest, monument or park protected by Theodore Roosevelt and share details with the class. If possible, visit a national park, monument or wildlife preserve in your area. Ask the students to imagine what the country would be like without Roosevelt's work in conservation.
Theodore Roosevelt led a full life, both in and out of the White House. Teach your students about Theodore Roosevelt's life by making a timeline. Use a large sheet of bulletin board paper or attach pieces of poster board. Divide the class into several groups and ask each group to research a particular time in Roosevelt's life. For example, one group might research major events in Roosevelt's childhood, while another might learn about Roosevelt's life after leaving the White House. Draw a line horizontally across the paper, and invite groups to come up one at a time to add in dates and events. Hang the time line in the classroom for students to refer to as they learn about Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt had a large family with several children. Roosevelt was also related to another later president: Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Ask your students to learn more about Roosevelt's family life and his relationship to Franklin Roosevelt by creating a family tree with the whole class. Show the students examples of family trees and draw a blank tree on a large sheet of poster board. Encourage the students to find names and pictures to add to the tree and to try to find the connection between the two Presidents.