Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum

The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
Abilene, KS | eisenhowerfoundation.net

Ike Express takes the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the road to schools in NW Kansas. A new option for schools that might be unable to make the trip to Abilene, this outreach program brings select IKEducation programs, including artifacts and documents from its extensive teaching collection, right into your classroom. Programs meet National and Kansas standards. Facilitated by IKEducators, programs options include:

Heidi @the White House (K-3) – 45 minutes

Ever wonder what it would be like to live at the White House? Using primary source photographs and targeted activities, students will explore President Eisenhower’s White House through the eyes of Heidi, a much-valued pet dog of the Eisenhower family.

I is for Ike (K-3) – 45 minutes

G is for General. P is for President. IKEducators will use the alphabet to introduce our youngest historians to the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower introduce our youngest historians to the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Many Hats of Dwight D. Eisenhower (K-3) – 45 minutes

Students are introduced to artifacts and Dwight D. Eisenhower through many of the hats he wore throughout his life. Includes hands-on exploration and a coloring book.

Band of Brothers (9-12) – 60 minutes

In this program, students critically evaluate images, documents, and a variety of artifacts from the Easy Co. 101st Airborne’s journey from the D-Day invasion to the liberation of Europe.

I Like Ike: An Election Icon (4-8) – 60 minutes

Presidential campaign slogans can play a large role in promoting candidates. Some are forgettable, but some never leave our memory. President Eisenhower’s “I Like Ike!” slogan remains the most iconic in our country’s history. Students will get to view many artifacts from Ike’s campaigns and try their hand at creating their own campaign slogan.

Three Branches of Government (4-8) – 40 minutes

Learn about the three branches of government — Executive, Legislative, and Judicial — with special emphasis on the Executive Branch.

Bill Becomes a Law (4-8) – 40 minutes

Becoming a law is not easy. It’s is a looonnng and winding road. This program provides a simplified road map for students to follow as they learn about this fundamental government process.

Dear Mr. President (4-8) – 40 minutes

Students will analyze primary source letters written to President Eisenhower by kids, noting their purpose and topics of the 1950s — from Elvis’ haircut to civil rights. Students are then encouraged practice civic engagement by writing a letter to the current President of the United States.

Becoming President (4-8) – 40 minutes

Who is eligible to run the Presidency? In this program, students will examine the Constitution in order to determine what exactly is required and when they can run for office.

Code Talkers (4-8) – 60 minutes

Numerous tactics were used by the U.S. military to disguise messages and secret information from our World War II enemies. This program introduces the Code Talkers, Native American men who served in the U.S. military and used their native languages to create codes that were never broken, even after the end of the war. Students will learn to cypher messages using the basics of this secret code.

Name to Number (7-12) – 60 minutes

In this program, students will learn about the Holocaust through the voices of survivors and realize that behind every number was a person with a name not to be forgotten. Students will also view primary sources created by General Eisenhower to make certain those war crimes were documented so those responsible would be held accountable.

D-Day Deception (9-12) – 60 minutes

The best deception is attained by feeding an opponent with falsehoods which he wants to believe. Using code names such as Fortitude, Bodyguard, Quicksilver, and Double-Cross, General Eisenhower commanded a series of covert operations that played a crucial role in the victorious Allied invasion of Europe. Students examine primary sources to gain an understanding of D-Day deception plans.

Project Solarium (10-12) – 80 minutes

Shortly after taking office, President Eisenhower needed to decide how the U.S. should confront Soviet Communist expansionism. In this program, students recreate Eisenhower’s Project Solarium to analyze primary sources, discuss and debate the merits of three options, and advise the president of their recommendations.

Spies Among Us? (10-12) – 80 minutes

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, members of the Communist Party, were convicted of passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union in 1945 and sentenced to death. Controversy surrounded the case, as many claimed the decision was the result of Cold War hysteria, not facts. In this program, students examine primary documents from persons both inside and outside of the intelligence community, as well as stepping into President Eisenhower’s position to decide whether to grant executive clemency to the Rosenbergs.

U-2 Spy Plane Crisis (10-12) – 80 minutes

What should President Eisenhower do when an American spy is captured in the Soviet Union just weeks before a potential peace summit with Premier Nikita Khrushchev? Should the CIA and White House cover for their spy or come clean about their espionage efforts? Can the peace summit move forward as planned? Students will use primary sources to act as presidential advisors, giving Eisenhower advice at key points in the timeline of the U2 spy plane incident and examining the consequences of Eisenhower’s choices.

SCHEDULING: Apply for the IKE Express outreach at IKEducation.com. Need help? Contact Mitzi Bankes Gose, Director of IKEducation, at iked1890@eisenhowerfoundation.net or 785-263-6771.