Tag archives for Barack Obama
Kids Grade President Obama on His First Year
Posted by President Obama has finished his first year in office. But how well has he done as President? National Geographic Kids magazine asked 758 readers to grade President Obama on his performance in different subjects like health care, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the environment.
So how did he do? For the most part, NG Kids readers think the President is doing a pretty good job. Most kids (90%) gave him an overall passing grade. When it came down to individual issues, the readers were a little more divided. For example, 46% gave him an A or B on health care, 22% gave him a C or D. Fifteen percent of kids gave him an F–more Fs than he received on any other subject. Readers were more pleased with President Obama’s progress on taking care of the environment. Nearly half gave the President an A or B in this subject.
But when it comes to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, one in four kids gave the President a C or D for his performance. Here, too, they were sharply divided on his handling of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and both sides were extremely vocal about the stance they thought the President should take.
Along with the grades, kids also gave advice for the President to keep in mind for the rest of his term, such as “Sometimes being a leader means standing alone and doing the right thing when no one else will,” “Listen to the people, because the people make up this great union,” and “Try not to slouch so much.”
What grade would you give President Obama for his first year in office?
Read more stories about President Obama on News Bites.
Photograph by Pete Souza/Official White House Photo
The 2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony begins today 5 p.m. EST today. There will be musical entertainment (including Jordin Sparks and Sheryl Crow) during the event, and for the finale, President Obama will light the National Christmas Tree. The giant tree doesn’t stand alone. There are also 56 smaller trees representing each state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia.
TV stations across the country will broadcast the ceremony. You can also watch the ceremony online at www.thenationaltree.org. Will you be tuning in?
Read more about the National Christmas Tree on the National Park Service website.
How much do you know about winter holidays? Quiz Your Noodle and find out!
Photograph by Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted their first State Dinner last night at the White House for Prime Minister Singh of India. To celebrate the visit, children of the Indian Embassy staff and Washington, D.C. public school students were invited to Blair House in Washington, D.C. for a “Taste of India.”
A young lady leads children and adults in performing a flying eagle, a hand gesture used in Indian dances.
Photograph by Gerald Herbert/AP
This morning, President Barack Obama welcomed kids across the country back to school. He stressed the importance of getting an education in his remarks, saying “…no matter what you want to do with your life – I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it.” He also challenged students to take charge of their own educations by setting goals for themselves and working hard to achieve them.
Was today your first day of school? Did you set new goals for this school year?
Read President Obama’s speech on the White House website.
Get tips on how to go green and stay germ-free at school this year.
Photograph by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
President Obama and the first family took a trip through Montana, Colorado, and Arizona this past weekend. President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia visited Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful geyser and ventured to the edge of the deep chasm of the Grand Canyon (which is up to a mile deep in some places).
Read more about the Obamas’ trip on the L.A. Times.
Think you know your national parks? Quiz Your Noodle and see if you have your facts straight.
See pictures of beautiful national parks in the Photo Gallery.
Malia and Sasha Obama now have the dog their dad promised them on election night. Their new puppy is a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog. The girls have named their new pal Bo. Soon he’ll be running around the White House lawns–maybe he’ll even visit the vegetable garden!
Learn more about Portuguese water dogs on the American Kennel Club site.
Quiz Your Noodle on other dog breeds!
Photograph by Pete Souza/The White House/AP
Photograph by Ron Edmonds/AP
First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground on a new vegetable garden on the White House lawn last week with help of students from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington, D.C. The last time there were veggies growing at the White House was when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was President in the 1940s.
Over 50 different vegetables, fruits, and herbs will be grown in the White House Kitchen Garden. There will also be two beehives for honey. Some of the green goodies will be added to the menu by the White House chefs, and others will be donated to Miriam’s Kitchen, a Washington, D.C. soup kitchen.
Learn how to plant your own veggies and flowers!
See photos of the First Lady working on the garden on the White House Blog.
Photo by Sandy Huffaker/LEGOLAND California
President Obama’s Inauguration has been recreated at LEGOLAND California! A crowd of over one thousand mini figures can be seen in front of LEGO brick Capitol building. Temperatures at this mock swearing in ceremony are much warmer than at the real ceremony.
Barack Obama was inaugurated today as the 44th President of the United States. He is also the country’s first African-American President. The inauguration took place on the west side of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
In his inaugural speech, President Obama said: “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.”
Where were you during the Inauguration?
Photograph by Jason Reed/Reuters
The citizens of the United States of America voted in record numbers yesterday, and they chose Barack Obama as the 44th president of the country. During his victory speech last night from Chicago, Senator Obama thanked his family, his vice president-elect Joe Biden, his campaign manager, and the people who came out to vote. He also congratulated Senator John McCain on his achievements during the presidential race.
President-elect Obama will be sworn into office on Inauguration Day, which is January 20, 2009.
Today’s the day everyone’s been talking about–election day! Will the next president be Barack Obama or John McCain? Visit ePals Election Central to learn more about the candidates.
The new president will not take office until Inauguration Day, which is January 20, 2009.
