Article Controls
Link to This
Email This
Share
President's Day is a federal holiday in the United States designed to honor George Washington. But as the holiday evolved it has come to be a way to honor both Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both of these former United States presidents were born in the month of February, and made major contributions to the growth of the United States.
As the first president of the United States, George Washington is a person that most students recognize. He was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces during the American Revolution. Under his military command, American troops defeated the British during several battles, including those at Saratoga and Yorktown. He then was able to switch gears and become a leader for the newly-created nation. While students may have heard the familiar stories, like the one about the cutting down of the cherry tree, they might enjoy reading stories that delve into the man behind the myth. By reading biographies about Washington, students can get a better idea of how he became the one of the leaders of the revolution, and then the president of the new nation.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. His presidency marked a major turning point in the history of the United States. Just like Washington, he served two terms, and was responsible for running the country during a crucial time, the Civil War. During his presidency he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment was passed, and he delivered the Gettysburg Address. Students might enjoy reading the transcripts of some of these famous documents. They can also learn about Lincoln's life. He was a fascinating and complicated person. By reading about the steps he took, and the slow and steady progress he made toward uniting the north and south, students can get an idea of what made him great.
President's Day activities provide a variety of opportunities for learning in the classroom. The use of a SMART Board can make a virtual tour come alive. Students could take a virtual tour of the White House to learn about the primary residence of most of the presidents. Other activities could focus on the role of president. Students could create a help wanted ad that describes the duties of a president. This activity offers a great opportunity for students to identify and understand the many hats that the president wears. Below is a list of lesson plans with activities that focus on the office of the president of the United States.
President's Day Activities:
Help Wanted: President of the United States- What are the responsibilities of a president? In this lesson plan students attempt to write a help wanted ad for the job of president. Students research the president's roles and responsibilities. They also design and present help wanted ads.
A President’s Home and the President’s House- In this lesson, students research the history of the White House. Students attempt to answer several questions, including who built the White House, and how long did it take? In addition they examine the life of Thomas Jefferson and compare and contrast Monticello and the White House.
Life of a President- This lesson plan focuses on the accomplishments of President Gerald Ford. This lesson can be used to study another U.S. President and students can create posters featuring their accomplishments.
The President Song- Students create a song that helps them to remember the presidents of the United States. Students research the historical backgrounds of the presidents, write lyrics, and present songs in class.
I’m number one!- This is a wonderful interdisciplinary unit that has students write, and do research on the first seven presidents of the United States. Some of the activities that students complete include a mock campaign, a poster project, and speeches.
Post a Comment