The Life of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Students will explore the photographs and captions to learn about the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower. For grades 3-5 or adult learners studying for the United States Civics Test. Approximate time needed is 15 minutes.

This activity can be done in a whole-class setting or assigned to students to complete individually or in pairs. To begin, ask students to explore all of the photographs in the activity and to read the captions, then to place the photographs in chronological order.

If help is needed, they may click on “Show Hints,” where they will learn that:

• Eisenhower grew up in Abilene, Kansas and enjoyed the outdoors and playing sports with his brothers and friends.
• After graduating from the Military Academy at West Point, Eisenhower served and volunteered to be part of an Army convoy that traveled across the country along U.S. Highway 30 to study how long it would take to transport military equipment from coast to coast.
• During World War II, Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Allied Commander in charge of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy also known as the D-Day invasion.
• Eisenhower became a five-star general during World War II. His leadership helped secure an Allied victory.

This activity was designed to support students studying for the United States Civics Test, part of the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen. It supports Civics Test Question 82: Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?