Theodore Roosevelt: Conservationist President

This activity can be used to introduce the conservation movement during President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. For grades 3-8. Approximate time needed is 20 minutes.

The focus of the activity is a photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and others in front of a sequoia at Yosemite National Park. It can be done as a whole class, in small groups, or individually.

Students will initially see only a small portion of the larger photograph with most of the details hidden. After analyzing this smaller segment, they will see the entire photograph.

When students begin the activity, viewing only a portion of the photograph at first, they should think about or respond to the questions:

• What do you see?
• What is President Theodore Roosevelt doing in the photo?
• Write two words to describe President Roosevelt’s clothing in the photo.
• Where do you think the photograph was taken?
• List something that helps prove where the photo was taken.
• Why do you think the photo was taken?

Discuss student answers and inferences as a class. After discussing these questions, the next step is to click on the second thumbnail to see more of the photograph. Using the additional context available, students should respond to:

• What do you see now?
• How many people are in the full photograph? How are they dressed?
• Where do you think the photograph was taken?
• Why do you think the photograph was taken?
• When do you think the photograph was taken?
• Where do you think you can find more information about the people in the photograph and why it was taken?

Lead a class discussion on what can be learned about President Roosevelt and the conservation movement from the photograph. Ask students where additional information about conservation during the Theodore Roosevelt administration can be found.

If necessary, provide the following context:

In the mid to late 19th century, natural resources in America were heavily exploited. Many Americans believed the natural resources in the United States were inexhaustible. But, conservationists called for more Federal supervision and preservation of the resources for future generations. Conservationists found an ally in President Theodore Roosevelt.

 

Roosevelt was deeply influenced by American naturalist John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, Chief of Forestry. Roosevelt considered the conservation and preservation efforts of his administration to be among his greatest achievements. The conservation legacy of President Roosevelt can be found in 230 million acres of public lands protected during his term.

 

This photograph was taken at the base of the Grizzly Giant tree in Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite in 1903. The land on which President Roosevelt stood in the photograph was then Federal land. The Yosemite Grant was created by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in June 1864. For the first time under the Yosemite Grant, land was set aside specifically for preservation and public use by the United States Federal Government.

The last step is to click on “When You’re Done.” Ask students to do some preliminary research into John Muir, then write three sentences about how Muir influenced Theodore Roosevelt and contributed to the conservation movement.