Presidents’ Day, originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, is now viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present. It’s a fantastic opportunity for educators and parents to engage children in history lessons and activities that honor the leadership and legacy of the nation’s commanders-in-chief.
Here are eight engaging activities to help kids understand and celebrate Presidents’ Day:
1.Presidential Fact Files: Create a classroom project where kids research facts about different U.S. presidents and present their findings. Each child could focus on a different president, creating a fact file that includes key achievements, historical events during their presidency, and interesting trivia.
2.Mount Rushmore Art: Get creative with an art project focusing on Mount Rushmore. Students can learn about the four presidents featured (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln), why they were chosen, and then draw or sculpt their version of this iconic monument.
3.White House Tour: Take an online virtual tour of the White House. This is an excellent way for students to see where every president since John Adams has lived and worked while serving as commander-in-chief.
4.Presidential Timeline: Create a timeline in class featuring significant events from various presidencies. This activity will help children understand the chronological order of presidents and historical milestones.
5.Role Play: Students can role-play as different presidents to learn about pivotal decisions made during their tenure. This helps build public speaking skills and deepens their understanding of presidential responsibilities.
6.Write Letters to the President: Encourage children to write letters to the current president expressing their ideas on what makes a good leader or sharing their thoughts on an issue important to them.
7.Campaign Posters: Have students create campaign posters for famous presidential elections or invent their candidates and campaigns based on what they’ve learned about leadership qualities.
8.Presidential Speech Analysis: Older students can analyze famous speeches by past presidents, looking at rhetoric, style, content, and historical impact. They can present their analyses to the class or even attempt writing their version of a presidential speech.
By incorporating these Presidents’ Day activities into your curriculum or at home, you provide a meaningful way for children to connect with American history and understand the significance of the presidency in shaping the United States.
