Kindergarden Read - Aloud

Presidents and American Symbols: Supplemental Guide 7A | Te d d y Ro o s eve l t 117

Presenting the Read-Aloud 10 minutes

Te d d y R o o s eve l t

 Show image 7A-13: Early teddy bear

Do you know what this is?

Today you will hear about the president who teddy bears were named

after—President Theodore, or “Teddy,” Roosevelt. Here is the story

about how this toy got the name teddy bear.

Once, while President Teddy Roosevelt and his friends were out

hunting, they came upon a black bear. Instead of shooting the

black bear, President Roosevelt showed compassion for the bear

by refusing to shoot it. When others heard the story of Teddy’s

compassion toward the black bear, they wrote about it in the

newspapers. Some people in New York City began selling stuffed toy

bears. Can you guess what they started calling the stuffed toy bears?

[Pause for student responses.]

They called them “teddy bears” in honor of President Roosevelt.

The reason why Teddy showed compassion for the black bear has to

do with how he grew up and what he learned as a child.

 Show image 7A-4: Young Roosevelt

When Teddy was young, he listened to everything his father told him

and always remembered what his father said. His father told him how

President Lincoln was honest and hard-working and how Lincoln did

many things to help a lot of people. His father also wanted Teddy to

do important things with his life.

And even though Teddy Roosevelt had asthma, which made it hard

for him to breathe, his father told him that he shouldn’t let his asthma

keep him from going out and doing things. He said, “Build up your

body and don’t be afraid to push it too hard.”

 Show image 7A-5: Active Roosevelt

As always, Teddy listened to his father. He worked very hard to build

up his body. He spent more time outdoors, climbing mountains,

hiking, fishing, and hunting. Teddy loved the outdoors and became an

expert in the subjects of wild animals, birds, and fish—he knew a lot

about these animals.