Students watch a video that introduces Ronald Reagan as the “Great Communicator.” Then they explore his record in domestic policy, focusing on Reaganomics, and his foreign policies. Next, they evaluate the Reagan presidency. Finally, students turn to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Reagan appointee as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Students are introduced to Ronald Reagan’s presidency and the lesson objectives. They watch Ronald Reagan | 60-Second Presidents to learn about his background and leadership style, then read introductory text and view a clip described in Watch Highlights from Reagan’s Speech that Defined Modern Conservatism 50 Years Ago to see why he was called “The Great Communicator.” Students post to a class wall explaining whether he deserved that nickname, citing an engaging example from the video. They then add one or two questions they have about Reagan’s presidency to a shared class table.
Teacher MovesPresent the overview and objectives of the experience. After students view the video and clip, prompt them to support their opinions about Reagan as “The Great Communicator” with specific examples. Review the questions students add about Reagan’s presidency, noting which will be addressed in the lesson and which may require additional reading.
Students read background text introducing Reaganomics and then use Reaganomics to examine how this supply-side economic approach was intended to work. They take notes in a graphic organizer to capture key features and details of Reaganomics. Students then answer multiple-choice questions about why increased military spending limited the policy’s effectiveness in shrinking government and why the approach was called “trickle-down economics.”
Teacher MovesGuide students to focus their notes on how tax cuts, deregulation, and expectations about business growth were supposed to affect the broader economy. As time permits, lead a discussion using the provided questions about whether students think Reaganomics works and where they see its continuing influence in the United States today.
Students read Ronald Reagan: Foreign Policy to learn about major international issues and actions during Reagan’s presidency. Using a graphic organizer, they describe key aspects of his foreign policy, including the “evil empire” rhetoric, support for “freedom fighters,” the Cold War thaw, and events in Lebanon, Libya, and the Iran-Contra affair. After completing the organizer, they post to a class wall explaining what Reagan meant by his slogan “peace through strength,” drawing on specific examples from his foreign policy.
Teacher MovesHave volunteers summarize each section of the foreign policy organizer to check understanding and highlight major events and themes. After students post their explanations of “peace through strength,” facilitate a brief discussion that connects their ideas back to the foreign policy examples they studied.
Students read a summary statement about how Reagan’s presidency shifted U.S. government priorities toward deregulation and support for business over expanding social programs. They then complete a poll assigning Reagan a letter grade for his presidency. On a class wall, they justify their grade with one or more reasons, and then review classmates’ posts and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment.
Teacher MovesUse the summary text to reinforce how Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies reflected conservative priorities. After students complete the poll and wall posts, prompt them to explain and compare their grading criteria. Use the suggested discussion questions to extend conversation about U.S. power and safety during Reagan’s years and the importance of presidential communication skills versus managerial skills.
Students read Sandra Day O’Connor to gain an overview of her life and career, then read Case by Case: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s Biggest Decisions to understand her impact as a Supreme Court Justice. They post to a teacher-viewable wall identifying two important cases in which O’Connor served as a “swing vote,” describing the issues involved and the positions she took in those decisions.
Teacher MovesReview student posts and share an exemplary response with the class to model clear identification of issues and O’Connor’s role as a swing vote. For students who want to learn more, direct them to Cases in Which Sandra Day O’Connor Cast the Decisive Vote from the student pack.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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