White House Cookie Kit on Inauguration Day

I purchased this White House Cookie Kit for just a few dollars on clearance from Trader Joe's at the end of summer. I planned to incorporate it into our U.S. Elections Unit Study this school year and then completely forgot I had it up on the top shelf of the pantry.

I've been having yet another relapse of this never-ending cold/flu and spent yesterday afternoon at the doctor's office. It was just my routine visit and another ultrasound, but it does look like I have developed both ear and sinus infections... Anyway, before my husband drove me to town for my appointments, I had one of the older boys get the White House Cookie Kit down while I handed the girls my camera. They did the rest while we were gone!

From the Archives:

U.S. Elections Lap Book (2016)

Presidential Election Lap Books and Unit Study (2012)

Prayer for the Nation

(condensed version of this prayer which we've been praying here at home) 

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

U.S. Elections Lap Book

This month we have been learning about U.S. Elections and we are working on the final details of our U.S. Elections Lap Books today as we wait for the polls to close this evening... 

Four years ago we completed these Presidential Election Lap Books and Unit Study and this year we used the excellent U.S. Elections Lap-Pak from Homeschool in the Woods, as I mentioned in our 2016-2017 Curriculum Plans last month.  We've all learned so much and have had a great time creating all the mini-books. 

In addition to the resources provided in the Lap-Pak, we've added in some books, videos, and this Pro-Life Citizenship Unit Study (for the teens) as well. 

We still have a few things to finish... The kids are each writing their personal policies (social, economic, and foreign) and working on coming up with their own campaign ads and slogans.

 

I loved hearing the kids quiz each other while they assembled their lap books! 

.: U.S. ELECTIONS LAP BOOK :.

.: INSIDE VIEW #1 :.

Left Flap:

• Suffrage
• The Presidential Campaign: Stump Speaking

Center: 

• Election Day
• The Electoral College
• National Conventions

Right Flap:

• Terms of Office
• The Presidential Campaign: Platform

.: INSIDE VIEW #2 :.

• The Presidential Campaign: Campaign Advertising — Spreading the Word!
• The Presidential Campaign: Media — News Source
• Inauguration Day

• Definition of “Election”
• The “Vocabinet”

.: INSIDE VIEW #3 :.

• Raising Money
• Different Forms of Government
• A “Handful” of Political Parties
• Statistics
• Who Do We Vote For?

.: INSIDE VIEW #4 :.

• The Electoral Race!
• Caucuses & Primaries (Choosing the Candidate)

• The Three Branches of Government
• The American Experiment

.: ADDITIONAL BOOKS & RESOURCES :. 

Books:
See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House
Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts

Mary and the 50 States
Thanksgiving in the White House
Elections in the U.S.A. Activity Book

Other Resources: 
Electoral College for Kids from Waltzing Matilda

Pro-Life Citizenship Unit Study (teens) from Culture of Life Studies
Misc other resources and videos (I'm out of time to link to them all right now!)

.: ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES :.

Build the White House

Build the United States Capital Building

(We'll be working on the the Capital Building tonight!) 

They also want to add the election prayer/novena we have been praying to the back of their Lap Books as well:

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of you daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.

Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners — on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God.

Amen.

AN ELECTION YEAR PRAYER FOR THE FAITHFUL WITNESS OF CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES 

By His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke,

O Lord Jesus Christ, You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Your Church You show us the Way, You teach us the Truth, and You give us Your Life. Grant, we humbly beg You, that, always and in all things, we may be faithful to You in Your Holy Church, and to Your Vicar on Earth, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis. Grant also, we beg You, that, in these times of decision, all who profess to be Catholic and who are entrusted with the sacred duty to participate in public life, may, by the strength of Your grace, unwaveringly follow Your Way and faithfully adhere to Your Truth, living in You with all their mind and heart, for Your greater glory, the salvation of souls, and the good of our nation. Amen. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, Pray for us.

Saint Thomas More, Patron of Religious Freedom, Pray for us.