Learn About Barack Obama During Reading Time

Use these cards for an interactive read-aloud! 

In addition to your English lessons, these passages apply to President’s Day, Black History Month, and American history units.  

At the beginning of the week, display the cards in a pocket chart and model engaging reading strategies:

1. Monitor your pace.
2. Demonstrate text-specific facial and vocal expressions.
3. Ask questions.
4. Make connections.

Continue read-alouds with your students during the week, using the picture cards as a visual reference. At the end of the week, have the students read them independently.

Among the many benefits of reading aloud, you’ll notice students expand their vocabulary and strengthen their listening skills.

Alternative Uses for These Cards That Build a Love of Reading

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to reinforce reading skills while introducing new concepts and vocabulary words. 

1. Print on cardstock for a reading center activity where students match the text to the images.
2. Print a copy for each student, glue it into their reading journal, and have them read to an adult at home.
3. Download the black and white version and distribute it as a cut and color matching activity. 

Above Reading Level Cards

1. After students have reviewed the cards, show them a new set of cards with certain words removed or blacked out from each to test students’ memories of the content. (For example, “Barack Obama served as the ___th President of the United States of America. He was the first ___________ person to hold this office in the United States.” Students would recall that Obama was the 44th president and the first African American to serve as president.)
2. Have students break down each card by its parts of speech. Display each card on a whiteboard and call on multiple students to come up and underline nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions, etc. 
3. Provide students with index cards. As they read, encourage students to write words they don’t know on their cards. Compile the submissions and create a word wall that displays the new vocabulary words and definitions. Revisit the words at the end of the week with your students to assess what they’ve learned.  

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

With this resource, you have the option to download in PDF or Google Slides formats. If it’s a little too difficult for your students, check out our Read Along Pocket Chart Cards – Barack Obama for Kinder and First Grade.

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. 

More strategies for a successful read-aloud »

This resource was created by Saumirah McWoodson, a teacher in California and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

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