My Own Oval Office

crayola supplies

Fine Line Markers
Paint Brushes
Colored Pencils
Markers
Artista II® Washable Tempera Paint
Model Magic®
No-Run School Glue
Pointed Tip Scissors
Construction Paper

household supplies

recycled newspaper
recycled boxes
paper towels
oak tag or poster board
cardboard
container(s) of water

Why?

What would it be like to be a U.S. President? Design your own Oval Office in the White House, decorated with your favorite things!

Steps

1. Research the White House and find out the importance of the Oval Office to the history and government of the United States. Find pictures of the Oval Office (in current or past administrations) and the Presidential seal. Gather information about the architecture and living and working areas of the building. Find out about security measures to protect the president. What famous events in history have taken place inside the Oval Office?
2. Imagine what it would be like to be the U.S. President and work in the White House. To make a replica of the Oval Office that you might use, find a recycled box with high sides. Cut out the front and half of the side panels with Crayola® Scissors for your diorama.
3. Cut poster board to fit inside the box. With Crayola Colored Pencils, sketch in three large windows with long drapes and a valance.
4. Cover your work area with newspaper. Paint the windows, walls, and drapes with Crayola Tempera Paint and Crayola Paint Brushes. Paint a sheet of construction paper royal blue for the rug. Dry.
5. Add molding or other decorative elements to the poster board with Crayola Fine Tip Markers.
6. On white construction paper, draw, color with markers, and cut out a fireplace with a mantle. Create a picture of your favorite president or painting, bookshelves, or any other items you would like to include in your office. Draw and cut out the U.S. and Presidential flags. Attach them, using Crayola School Glue, to the poster board. Glue the poster board around the inside of the box, curving it slightly.
7. On white construction paper, sketch the round Presidential Seal of office with colored pencils. Fill it in with Crayola Markers and cut it out. Glue it to the middle of the painted blue paper to form the Oval Office Presidential rug. Add authentic red and yellow details if you wish.
8. Use recycled boxes and cardboard to create your desk, sofa, and chairs. Cut and glue pieces as necessary. Paint the furniture, dry, and place it in the office.
9. With Crayola Model Magic, create a globe, phone, and other office equipment. Place them in your office. What would your first presidential act be?

adaptations

Research details about White House construction and decoration. Students with special needs will find photographs and written descriptions especially helpful.

Develop an understanding of how the president is elected and the roles and responsibilities of the office. Explore the lives and work of career politicians.

Create other famous areas of the White House such as the Lincoln Bedroom, State Dining Room, or the Green Room. Build the outside of the White House choosing either the North or South Portico. See The White House.

Discover interesting facts about the Presidential rug found in the Oval Office.

benefits

Students gather information about the architectural design, famous rooms, living areas and working areas, and the security measures of the U.S. White House.

Students realize the importance of the Oval Office to the country's president and its history.

Students create their own miniature Oval Office diorama, designing the office as if they were president.

grades

Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12
Special Needs

subjects

Language Arts
Social Studies
Visual Arts

time

Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.