Instructify

If the closest your students have been to the White House is Google Maps, consider taking a virtual field trip via The White House Museum. You can look at floor plans, read detailed descriptions of the various floors and rooms, discover what goes on in each section of the White House, and learn about the history of the executive mansion. The tour covers everything from 3D models of the Oval Office to the storied history of the White House bowling alley.

If you’re so inclined, you can take advantage of White House lesson plans that focus on the history of the mansion and Washington, D.C., too. These lessons are appropriate for grades 6 through 9, with discussion questions that may be useful for older students as well.

The site’s search function could be more obvious — you have to go to the Questions & Answers page to find it — which is one of the site’s few drawbacks. Overall, The White House Museum is a fun and informative way to learn about where the president hangs his hat, without all the Secret Service guys giving you the stink eye. -BILL FERRIS

The White House Museum

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