What is Teach with TR? Teach with TR is a compilation of digital educational resources created by the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library for educators across the country. You’ll find a variety of different types of resources on this page related to Theodore Roosevelt, his life, his presidency, and his legacy suitable for many audiences inside and outside of the classroom but targeted to K-12 classrooms and curriculum standards.
What if I have more questions? We welcome your feedback on our educational resources. Is there something you always teach about Theodore Roosevelt that you’d like to see a resource for? Is there something you’d like us to delve a little deeper into? If you’re an educator who teaches about the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, we’re here to help. Please feel free to reach out to us at hello@trlibrary.com.
Are there other opportunities to get involved? We also invite you to join our quarterly education newsletter featuring a curated offering of resources related to Theodore Roosevelt’s life and legacy based on different themes for each newsletter. Reach out to us if you’d like to be added to the list.
Lesson Plans
What Did It Mean to Be a Progressive at the Turn of the 20th Century?
Use this Inquiry Design Model (IDM) lesson plan with four supporting questions to discuss progressivism at the turn of the 20th century.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.4, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.2
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Did Theodore Roosevelt Fundamentally Change the Presidency and Its Relationship to Executive Power?
Use this Inquiry Design Model (IDM) lesson plan with four supporting questions to discuss progressivism at the turn of the 20th century.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.4, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.2
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Was Theodore Roosevelt a Feminist?
Use this Inquiry Design Model (IDM) lesson plan with four supporting questions to discuss Theodore Roosevelt and feminism in the classroom.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1-6.E2.1, US.6_12.1-6.E3.2
Sociology
§ 6th-12th grade: SOC.6_12.1-2.D2.4
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
How Do Presidents Communicate Effectively?
Use this Inquiry Design Model (IDM) lesson plan with four supporting questions to consider the rhetoric of presidents like Theodore Roosevelt.
North Dakota Standards:
English Language Arts
§ 11th/12th grade: 11-12.R.6, 11-12.R.7, 11-12.R.9, 11-12.W.1, 11-12.W.4
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.3.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.3.9-12
Timelines
Timeline of Theodore Roosevelt’s Life
Visit this timeline to learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s personal and professional life.
Timeline of Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency
Visit this timeline to learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency from 1901 to 1909.
Timeline of Theodore Roosevelt’s Life in the Badlands
Visit this timeline to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota’s Badlands in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Timeline of Theodore Roosevelt’s Life for Kids
Visit this timeline to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt’s life, written specifically for kids.
Resource Packets
White House Pets
Learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s pets when the family lived at the White House with this resource packet containing 18 primary sources.
North Dakota Standards:
Social Studies
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.7, H.3_5.8
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.2.3-5, D2.His.3.3-5, D2.His.4.3-5, D2.His.6.3-5, D2.His.10.3-5, D2.His.14.3-5
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.4.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.4.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Pure Food and Drug Act
Learn about the Pure Food and Drug Act and Meat Inspection Act of 1906 and Theodore Roosevelt’s role in the passage of these acts with this resource packet containing 15 primary sources.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Rough Riders + the Spanish-American War
Learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and the Spanish-American War with this resource packet containing 15 primary sources.
North Dakota Standards:
Social Studies
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.7, H.3_5.8
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.2.3-5, D2.His.3.3-5, D2.His.4.3-5, D2.His.6.3-5, D2.His.10.3-5, D2.His.14.3-5
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.4.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.4.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Women’s Suffrage
Learn about women’s suffrage and Theodore Roosevelt’s thoughts on women and the right to vote with this resource packet containing 16 primary sources.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.7, H.3_5.8
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.2.3-5, D2.His.3.3-5, D2.His.4.3-5, D2.His.6.3-5, D2.His.10.3-5, D2.His.14.3-5
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.4.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.4.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Panama Canal
Learn about the Panama Canal and Theodore Roosevelt’s connection to the canal with this resource packet containing 13 primary sources.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12
Hands-On History Activities
Play White House Pets Bingo
Learn more about the pets Theodore Roosevelt and his family kept at the White House through a game of bingo with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota Standards:
Social Studies
§ K-2nd grade: H.K_2.1, H.K_2.4, H.K_2.5
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.1, H.3_5.8
National C3 Standards:
§ K-2nd grade: D2.His.4.K_2, D2.His.6.K_2, D2.His.9.K_2
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.4.3_5, D2.His.5.3_5, D2.His.6.3_5, D2.His.9.3_5
Serve on Theodore Roosevelt’s Meat Inspection Committee
Learn more about the meatpacking industry of Theodore Roosevelt’s time and the food safety violations of the Chicago stockyards while pretending to serve on Roosevelt’s meat inspection committee with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota Standards:
Social Studies
§ K-2nd grade: H.K_2.1, H.K_2.4, H.K_2.5
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.1, H.3_5.8
National C3 Standards:
§ K-2nd grade: D2.His.4.K_2, D2.His.6.K_2, D2.His.9.K_2
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.4.3_5, D2.His.5.3_5, D2.His.6.3_5, D2.His.9.3_5
Make Theodore Roosevelt’s Frying Pan Bread
Make Theodore Roosevelt’s personal recipe for frying pan bread with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota State Studies Standards:
§ 4th grade: North Dakota Agriculture/Part 1/Section 8: Ranches and Cattle Bonanzas
§ 8th grade: Unit III: Waves of Development (1861-1920)/Lesson 2: Making a Living/Topic 2: Ranching/Section 1: Ranching
§ High School: History Unit/Building Towns and Communities/Was the Homestead Act a Good Thing?
Build Theodore Roosevelt’s White House
Build your own White House modeled after Theodore Roosevelt’s renovated residence with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota Standards:
Social Studies
§ K-2nd grade: H.K_2.4, H.K_2.5
§ 3rd-5th grade: H.3_5.8
National C3 Standards:
§ K-2nd grade: D2.His.2.K_2
§ 3rd-5th grade: D2.His.2.3_5
Write a Diary Entry from Theodore Roosevelt’s Perspective
Write a diary entry just as Theodore Roosevelt would have done from his point of view with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota Standards:
English Language Arts
§ 6th grade: 6.W.5, 6.W.6, 6.W.7, 6.IR.2
§ 7th grade: 7.W.5, 7.W.6, 7.W.7, 7.IR.2
§ 8th grade: 8.W.5, 8.W.6, 8.W.7, 8.IR.2
§ 9th/10th grade: 9-10.W.5, 9-10.W.6, 9-10.W.7, 9-10.IR.2
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.5
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.3.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.3.9-12
Design a Cattle Brand
Design your own cattle brand inspired by real ranchers like Theodore Roosevelt with this Hands-On History activity.
North Dakota State Studies Standards:
§ 4th grade: North Dakota Agriculture/Part 1/Section 8: Ranches and Cattle Bonanzas
§ 8th grade: Unit III: Waves of Development (1861-1920)/Lesson 2: Making a Living/Topic 2: Ranching/Section 1: Ranching
§ High School: History Unit/Building Towns and Communities/Was the Homestead Act a Good Thing?
National History Day Guides
Bison Conservation (Designed for Rights + Responsibilities)
Use this guide to explore a potential focus on bison conservation for the 2024-2025 National History Day theme: Rights + Responsibilities.
North Dakota State Studies Standards:
§ 8th grade: Unit III: Waves of Development (1861-1920)/Lesson 1: Changing Landscapes/Topic 2: Newcomers’ View of the Land/Section 3: The Environment
Grand Canyon (Designed for Rights + Responsibilities)
Use this guide to explore a potential focus on the Grand Canyon for the 2024-2025 National History Day theme: Rights + Responsibilities.
North Dakota State Standards:
Social Studies
§ 6th-12th grade: US.6_12.1, US.6_12.2, US.6_12.3, US.6_12.5, US.6_12.1-6.E3.3
National C3 Standards:
§ 6th-8th grade: D2.His.1.6-8, D2.His.2.6-8, D2.His.3.6-8, D2.His.6.6-8, D2.His.10.6-8, D2.His.14.6-8, D2.His.15.6-8
§ 9th-12th grade: D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12, D2.His.6.9-12, D2.His.10.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12, D2.His.15.9-12