Procedures

• OBJECTIVES

  Students will identify the constitutional requirement for the State of the Union address, examine the issues presented in State of the Union speeches, and analyze the president’s proposals for each issue.

• SET UP

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related handouts and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following Google resources for students to use with this lesson. In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

  Use either option below to engage students in activities and classroom discussions on the State of the Union address. Ensure students have a device to be able to access videos online as a class or individually.

  • HANDOUT: Note-Taking Chart (Google Doc)

  • HANDOUT: Bingo Game (Google Doc)

  • HANDOUT: Bingo Board Game (Google Slides)

  • HANDOUT: Applause Analysis (Google Doc)

  • HANDOUT: Guiding Questions (Google Doc)

• INTRODUCTION

  Ask students to share what they know about the State of the Union address, including:

  • Why does the president give this speech every year?
  • Who attends the address?
  • What topics are typically covered in the speech?

• BACKGROUND

  As a class, view the following video clip to provide a brief history of the speech and then have your students respond to and discuss the accompanying questions: State of the Union History [Clip #1] (3:22).

  Questions:

  • Explain the origin of the State of the Union address.
  • How did Thomas Jefferson prefer to deliver his message to Congress?
  • Which president returned to the tradition of addressing a joint session of Congress in person?
  • According to Don Ritchie, why did Thomas Jefferson prefer to deliver the address in this manner? How did this impact presidents through the 19th and early 20th centuries?
  • Explain what Don Ritchie means when he says the messages are "long laundry lists."
  • Explain how recent speeches are delivered to Congress.

• ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND (OPTIONAL)

  In preparation for President Biden's 2023 State of the Union address, have students view either President Biden's 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden's 2021 Joint Session to Congress, or President Trump's 2020 State of the Union address. Ask your students to reflect on the issues and proposed actions address in the speech(s).

  Video Clips:

  • President Biden's 2022 State of the Union Address [Clip #3] (1:03:24).
  • President Biden's 2021 Presidential Address [Clip #4] (1:05:31).
  • President Trump's 2020 State of the Union Address [Clip #5] (1:23:00).

• ENGAGEMENT

  Have students view President Biden's 2023 State of the Union address [Clip #2] (1:13:35) and ask students to complete the sections on one of the following the handouts. Teachers can choose the option for the class or have students choose.

  Engagement Options:

  • Note-Taking Chart (Google Doc)

  • Bingo Game (Google Doc)

  • Bingo Board Game (Google Slides)

  • Applause Analysis (Google Doc)

  • Guiding Questions (Google Doc)

• CLOSURE

  Have students share their responses to the culminating prompt: What do you think is the most important issue our country is facing this year? Choose one topic from the speech and explain how you might solve it.

  Have students share their responses through class discussion, an online classroom forum, or in small groups during class.

• OPTIONAL EXTENSION

  Students may also choose to view one or more historical State of the Union addresses given by past presidents to compare and contrast.

  Your students can access past State of the Union Addresses and Party Responses at this link (C-SPAN) or from the list below.

  • President Trump (R) (February 4, 2020)
  • President Barack Obama (D) (January 26, 2010)
  • President George W. Bush (R) (January 29, 2002)
  • President Bill Clinton (D) (January 23, 1996)
  • President George H.W. Bush (R) (January 31, 1990)
  • President Ronald Reagan (R) (January 25, 1988)
  • President Jimmy Carter (D) (January 23, 1980)
  • President Gerald Ford (R) (January 12, 1977)
  • President Richard Nixon (R) (January 27, 1974)
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson (D) (January 8, 1964)
  • President John F. Kennedy (D) (January 20, 1962)
  • President Harry Truman (D) and President Dwight Eisenhower (R) (January 8, 1952 and January 1960)