Barack Obama€¦ · Barack Obama Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com. 7. Summarise Barack’s career in politics using 30 words or fewer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: Barack started

What Did Barack Study?

Who Is Barack Obama?

What Was Barack's Childhood Like?

Barack was born on 4th August 1961 in Hawaii, USA. Barack’s father was also called Barack Hussein Obama. Barack’s mother was called Stanley Ann Dunham.

Barack lived in Indonesia when he was a young child. He moved back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents when he was ten years old.

Did You Know...?

Barack could speak English and Indonesian fluently by the time that he was four years old.

Did You Know...?

Barack was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.

Did You Know...?

A journal is a newspaper or magazine that writes about one subject. The Harvard Law Review is a journal that writes about the law.

Barack Hussein Obama is a politician and a lawyer. A politician is a person whose job it is to help to govern a country.

Barack was the first Black president of the United States of America. A president is a person who is the head of a country.

Barack left high school in 1979. He moved to Los Angeles and then to New York City. He went to university to learn about how governments work while he lived in both of these cities.

Barack started to attend Harvard Law School in 1988. He was chosen to be the president of a journal called the Harvard Law Review which is written by students.

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Barack was awarded with his Juris Doctor in 1991. This is a degree that someone needs if they want to practise law.

When Did Barack Become President?

What Did Barack Do before Becoming President?

Before Barack became president, he helped to lead a project which tried to get all members of the public to sign up to vote.

After this, Barack became a state senator. This means that he stood up for the people in his state and he worked to create laws to support them.

Barack was elected President of the United States in 2008. He officially started the role the following year on 20th January 2009. Barack became the first Black president in US history.

Barack’s role as president ended in 2017 but he continues to support good causes.

Barack Obama



Questions1. In which country was Barack president? Tick one.

United Kingdom United States of America Indonesia Harvard

2. Number the events from 1-4 to show the order that they happened in.

Barack became president. Barack moved from Indonesia to Hawaii. Barack went to Harvard Law School. Barack became a state senator.

3. In which two cities did Barack live after he left high school? Tick two.

Los Angeles Harvard New York City Hawaii

4. What was Barack awarded with in 1991? Tick one.

the role of president of the Harvard Law Review his Juris Doctor the position of state senator the role of President of the United States

5. This means that he stood up for the people in his state… What do you think the phrase stood up for means in this sentence?

6. Fill in the missing words.

Barack became the Black president in US .

Barack Obama



7. Summarise Barack’s career in politics using 30 words or fewer.

Barack Obama



Answers1. In which country was Barack president? Tick one.

United Kingdom United States of America Indonesia Harvard


4 Barack became president.1 Barack moved from Indonesia to Hawaii.2 Barack went to Harvard Law School.3 Barack became a state senator.

3. In which two cities did Barack live after he left high school? Tick two.

Los Angeles Harvard New York City Hawaii

4. What was Barack awarded with in 1991? Tick one.

the role of president of the Harvard Law Review his Juris Doctor the position of state senator the role of President of the United States

5. This means that he stood up for the people in his state… What do you think the phrase stood up for means in this sentence?

Accept any sensible definition, such as: defended; protected; spoke up for; looked after.

6. Fill in the missing words.

Barack became the first Black president in US history.

Barack Obama



7. Summarise Barack’s career in politics using 30 words or fewer.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: Barack started working on a project to get more voters. Then, he became a state senator and helped his state. Finally, he became president.

Barack Obama



Barack Hussein Obama is a politician and a lawyer. He was the first Black president of the United States of America.

Barack Hussein Obama was born on 4th August 1961 in Hawaii, USA. Barack’s father was also called Barack Hussein Obama and Barack’s mother was called Stanley Ann Dunham.

Barack lived in Indonesia when he was a young child. He moved back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents when he was ten years old.

Did You Know...?

Barack could speak English and Indonesian fluently by the time that he was four years old.

Education

Childhood

Barack left high school in 1979 and he moved to Los Angeles and then to New York City. In both of these cities, he went to university to learn about how governments work.

In 1988, Barack started to attend Harvard Law School. He was chosen to be the president of a journal called the Harvard Law Review, which is written by students.

In 1991, Barack was awarded with his Juris Doctor. This is a degree that someone needs if they want to practise law.


Did You Know...?

Barack was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.



Glossary

journal:A newspaper or magazine that writes about one particular subject.

politics: Activities which relate to governing a country or area.

politician:A person whose job it is to be involved in governing a country or area.

Did You Know...?

Barack is one of only 12 US presidents who did the job for 2,922 days. The only president who did the job for longer than Barack did was Franklin D Roosevelt, who was president for 4,422 days.

Barack’s first role within politics was when he helped to lead a project which tried to get all members of the public to register to vote.

After this, Barack became a state senator. He worked to create laws which helped children, elderly citizens and families with low incomes.

In 2008, Barack was elected President of the United States. He officially started the role the following year on 20th January 2009. Barack became the first Black president in US history.

Politics

During his time as president, Barack made sure that millions of people were able to access healthcare. He also supported marriage equality and he made huge steps towards tackling climate change.

Barack’s role as president ended in 2017 but he continues to work towards supporting these causes.

Impact

Barack Obama



Questions1. Why do you think that Barack could speak fluent English and Indonesian by the time that

he was four years old? Tick one.

because he learnt it at school in Hawaii because he had spent time living in two countries because his mother only spoke Indonesian because his grandparents taught him both languages

2. In which year was Barack born? Tick one.

1961 1979 1991 2008


Barack became the first Black president of the US. Barack became president of the Harvard Law Review. Barack became a state senator. Barack was awarded with his Juris Doctor.

4. …to get all members of the public to register to vote. Which of these is closest in meaning to the word register? Tick one.

to forget to sign up to tick to go out

5. Find and copy what a Juris Doctor is.

Barack Obama



6. Find and copy two things that Barack did while he was president.

•

•

7. Summarise Barack’s education in 20 words or fewer.

8. Predict what Barack might do over the next ten years.

Barack Obama



Answers1. Why do you think that Barack could speak fluent English and Indonesian by the time that

he was four years old? Tick one.

because he learnt it at school in Hawaii because he had spent time living in two countries because his mother only spoke Indonesian because his grandparents taught him both languages

2. In which year was Barack born? Tick one.

1961 1979 1991 2008


4 Barack became the first Black president of the US.1 Barack became president of the Harvard Law Review.3 Barack became a state senator.2 Barack was awarded with his Juris Doctor.

4. …to get all members of the public to register to vote. Which of these is closest in meaning to the word register? Tick one.

to forget to sign up to tick to go out

5. Find and copy what a Juris Doctor is.

A Juris Doctor is a degree that someone needs if they want to practise law.

Barack Obama



6. Find and copy two things that Barack did while he was president.

Accept any two of the following answers: Barack made sure that millions of people were able to access healthcare; he supported marriage equality; he made huge steps towards tackling climate change.

7. Summarise Barack’s education in 20 words or fewer.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: Barack studied how governments work before going to Harvard Law School and achieving his Juris Doctor.

8. Predict what Barack might do over the next ten years.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: I predict that Barack will continue to try to push for new laws that support every citizen’s right to affordable healthcare because he was passionate about this when he was president.

Barack Obama



Barack Hussein Obama is a politician and a lawyer. He was the first Black president of the United States of America.

Education

Childhood

Barack Hussein Obama was born on 4th August 1961 in Hawaii, USA. Barack’s father was also called Barack Hussein Obama. He grew up in Kenya and moved to Hawaii in 1960. Barack’s mother was called Stanley Ann Dunham. Just like Barack’s father, his mother moved to Hawaii in 1960.

Barack spent time living in Indonesia when he was a young child. By the time that he was four years old, Barack could speak both English and Indonesian fluently. Barack moved back to Hawaii to live with his grandparents when he was ten years old.

Barack went to an important school and he was very good at basketball. After leaving high school in 1979, he moved to Los Angeles and then to New York City. In both of these cities, he went to university to learn about how governments work.

In 1988, Barack started to attend Harvard Law School. He was chosen to be the president of the Harvard Law Review. This is a journal that is made by students and people can use it for legal research. In 1991, Barack was awarded with his Juris Doctor. This is a professional degree that is needed if someone wants to practise law.




Career

Barack began to work as a community organiser in Chicago. He set up lots of programs to help people to get jobs, to learn new skills and to know their rights. After this, Barack began working as a civil rights lawyer and he helped to protect the freedom and equality of his clients.

Politics

Barack’s first role within politics was as part of a project which tried to get all members of the public to register to vote.

After this, Barack became a state senator and he worked to create laws which helped children, elderly citizens and families with low incomes.

In 2008, Barack was elected President of the United States and he officially started the role the following year. As the 44th President of the United States of America, he became the first Black president in US history.

During his time as president, Barack signed a law which meant that over 20 million people were able to access healthcare that they could not previously afford. He also supported marriage equality and he made huge steps towards tackling climate change.

Barack’s presidency ended in 2017 but he continues to support these causes. Barack and his wife set up a foundation which believes that ordinary people can change history when they work together.

Glossary

equality:Being equal to other people and having the same rights and opportunities.

journal:A newspaper or magazine that writes about one particular subject.

legal: About the system of rules in a country.

politics:Activities which relate to the governance of a country or area.

Barack Obama



Questions1. Which of these is not true about Barack? Tick one.

He is a politician. He was good at basketball. He is a lawyer. He was born in Los Angeles.

2. What is the name of Barack’s mother? Tick one.

Hussein Stanley Angela Barack

3. Which of Barack’s relatives grew up in Kenya?

4. Find and copy the year that Barack left high school.

5. …Barack could speak both English and Indonesian fluently. What does the word fluently mean in this sentence?

6. Summarise what Barack did during his time as president in 20 words or fewer.

Barack Obama



7. Compare Barack’s election as president of the Harvard Law Review to his election as President of the United States.

8. Explain how Barack helped others before he became president.

Barack Obama



Answers1. Which of these is not true about Barack? Tick one.

He is a politician. He was good at basketball. He is a lawyer. He was born in Los Angeles.

2. What is the name of Barack’s mother? Tick one.

Hussein Stanley Angela Barack

3. Which of Barack’s relatives grew up in Kenya?

Barack’s father grew up in Kenya.

4. Find and copy the year that Barack left high school.

1979

5. …Barack could speak both English and Indonesian fluently. What does the word fluently mean in this sentence?

Accept any sensible definition, such as: without a problem; easily; without mistakes; effortlessly; without needing to try hard; naturally.

6. Summarise what Barack did during his time as president in 20 words or fewer.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: During his time as president, Barack signed laws giving access to healthcare, supporting equality and tackling climate change.

Barack Obama



7. Compare Barack’s election as president of the Harvard Law Review to his election as President of the United States.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: Both times that Barack was elected president, he was in charge of something that was involved with law. As president of the Harvard Law Review, the journal he ran was about law. As President of the United States of America, he helped to create laws.

8. Explain how Barack helped others before he became president.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: Before Barack became president, he helped others by setting up helpful programs as a community organiser. Then, as a state senator, he helped to create laws which helped children, elderly citizens and families with low incomes.

Barack Obama



Barack Obama€¦ · Barack Obama Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com. 7. Summarise Barack’s career in politics using 30 words or fewer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: Barack started

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