Presidents’ Day is the perfect holiday to salute some of the great men who have served our country. Here are some fun activities to introduce young students to the importance of the presidency.
Coin Sort (PreK–1)
- Students separate pennies and quarters by identifying the president on each.
- Advanced: Include dimes (Franklin Roosevelt) and nickels (Thomas Jefferson)
Create a Timeline
Create a timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life. (Download free timeline cards here.)
Coin Cleaning Science Experiment
- Hypothesize which solution cleans coins the best: water, vinegar and salt, tabasco, lemon juice, cola, or baking soda.
- Fill separate containers with solution and drop a dirty penny in each. Wait 15 minutes before removing the pennies.
- Observe and record observations.
- Discuss which solution worked the best and why. (Vinegar and tabasco work well because of the vinegar and salt solution.)
Writing Prompts:
- Compare and contrast Washington and Lincoln.
- What are some important lessons we can learn from famous presidents?
- Students imagine they are president of the United States for one day. What would they do? What is the most important thing a president does?
Craft
Create a portrait of George Washington. Get your free download from Evan-Moor’s Art for All Seasons book.
Book Recommendation
This Caldecott award winner has wonderful facts and stories about many of our nation’s most prominent presidents.
So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George
For additional resources and activities, check out Evan-Moor’s Theme Pockets: Presidents’ Day ($5.99) and Abraham Lincoln “tops and bottoms” writing form and story starters ($1.99, TeachersPayTeachers).
Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike.