Summary
You’ve probably heard the name Ronald Reagan--after all, it adorns schools, highways, airports, buildings, and lots of other places. But since you were probably born after he left office, you might not know a lot about the life and legacy of America’s 40th President. Never fear--in this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will fill you in on the story of how this lifelong fan of Franklin D. Roosevelt became one of the most successful Republicans of all time. You’ll hear about his early career as a Hollywood movie actor, and how it taught him the communication skills he’d later put to use in his political career. You’ll discover how he helped move conservative principles like low taxes and increased military spending from the fringe into the mainstream. And you’ll see how he contributed to the end of the Cold War. You’ll also learn about the downside of his presidential administration, too--from the way he ran up the national debt to the scandal that threatened his presidency. Whether you love the 80s or not, you’ll be sure to learn something from this movie!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Ronald Reagan:
- What is one new thing you learned about ronald reagan?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining ronald reagan.
- Draw or give one example of your own.