As we head towards the inauguration of a new U.S. President, this program provides students with an introduction to the three branches of government — Executive, Judicial, and Legislative — the basic duty of each and their checks and balances of each other. We will then focus in on the Executive Branch and introduce students to the roles of the President, using examples from President Eisenhower’s two terms in office.

To celebrate the inauguration of a new U.S. President, students will learn about the qualifications to be the President of the U.S. from examination of the Constitution. They will then use a little math to figure out when they will be eligible to run for President, become familiar with the oath of office that the President must take, and discuss how each citizen can help “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” as a citizen today.

Once upon a time, Dwight Eisenhower was a regular little boy, who loved to camp, fish, play sports, and spend time with his friends. His family was was poor, but had everything they needed. He had to do chores without allowance, because that was just part of life. If he wanted extra spending money, he had to earn it. He loved his family, even though he and his brothers liked to fight. And while he grew up to be a five-star General in the United States Army who helped save the world from tyranny, and then served two terms as the 34th President of the United States, he was always simply known as “Ike: the man from Abilene.” Using the book I is for Ike: The ABC’s of Dwight D.Eisenhower, young learners will use the alphabet to learn basic facts and make personal connections with Ike.

Following World War II, many Americans kept souvenirs of lost loved ones or their time in the war. Many of these articles were stored in boxes or trunks and then tucked away in attics, basements, and garages for decades. In this program, students will learn what qualifies as an artifact, and how important artifacts are as sources of information. Students will handle and evaluate images, documents, and a variety of artifacts from WWII.

From the time Kansas became a state in 1861, it has been home to women who pushed the boundaries. From well-known Kansans like Amelia Earhart and Carrie Nation to lesser-known women who fought for equality in politics, sports and the workforce, they have overcome obstacles to explore uncharted areas of the world not easily accessible to women. Dorothy was right in saying “There’s no place like home,” but the women presented in this program stepped way off the yellow brick road and blazed their own paths.

At a time when every American was asked to make sacrifices for the war effort, World War II marked the establishment of Dogs for Defense, a program to which families donated their dogs to serve in the U.S. military. These four-legged recruits came in every size and shape from the backyards of small towns and big cities, and were transformed through training from loving pets into working troops. Students will hear the story of Chips, a real Hero Hound who left the family sofa, entered the battlefield, and returned home a hero.

Using the children’s book, Rosie Revere, Engineer, author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts celebrate creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving through second-grader, Rosie. When her great-great-aunt Rose (who was a real World War II Rosie the Riveter) comes for a visit and mentions her one unfinished goal — to fly — Rosie sets to work building a contraption to make her aunt's dream come true. In the process, Rosie learns the only real failure for an inventor is giving up.