Washington's Day, or President's Day, Lesson Plans for the Elementary Classroom

President's Day, officially known as Washington's Day, and sometimes called Washington's Birthday, is one of the many holidays and celebrations in February worthy of learning and celebration in the classroom. President's Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

History of Washington's Day:

When is George Washington's birthday?

When Washington was born in 1731, the date was February 11^th according to the Julian calendar in use at the time. In 1752 Britain and her colonies began using the Gregorian calendar, which moved Washington's birthday to February 22^nd. Ironically the third Monday in February can never fall on either February 11^th or February 22^nd.

The federal holiday is still officially known as Washington's Day, but states can adopt their own holidays and the name President's Day seems to be the more popular name for that appears on most calendars. Abraham Lincoln's birthday is also February 12^th. Many elementary classrooms study both Washington and Lincoln and others take the opportunity to celebrate all presidents.

President's Day Children's Books:

All great lesson plans begin with great books. Here are some worthy children's books for President's Day.

President's Day by Anne Rockwell: A kid favorite

President's Day is a real winner for introducing President's Day. It explains the basics about the celebration and some famous Presidents through preparations for a school play. Cute and vibrantly colorful illustrations by Lizzy Rockwell really pull kids into the setting for this President's Day children's book.

Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln by Patricia Polacco: New for 2011

Hot off the presses, in Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln students Michael and Derek are invited to play a game at a Civil War museum and come face to face with Abraham Lincoln. History comes alive in this children's book by award winning author Patricia Polacco.

So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George: Caldecott Medal Winner

This Caldecott Award winning book uses humor and amusing illustrations to educate kids about former Presidents. This book doesn't just celebrate the heroic moments in Presidential history. Kids love it because it also tells about their funny and embarrassing moments too.

This book has a bonus resource in the back with a list of the first 42 Presidents and their basic information about years of Presidency, birthplace and major contributions.

Presidential Poetry:

Students can write acrostic poems for President's Day. An acrostic poem is a poem using words or phrases that line up to create the word. Typically letters in the word form the first letter of the descriptive or relevant phrase but they don't have to.

Students could use the word President and use vocabulary related to presidents in general. Here's an example of an acrostic poem about Presidents from a student.

Pennsylvania Avenue address,

Reporters seeking for

Evening news,

Suits and ties,

Inaugurations,

Declarations,

Elections,

Never a woman, not yet,

The

Streets and schools named after them

Students could also choose or be assigned a specific president for the theme of an acrostic poem. Here's an example of an acrostic poem written about Ronald Reagan by a student.

Remembered

Eighties icon,

A

GOP candidate,

Actor and

Nancy's husband

Acrostic poems for President's Day are a great bulletin board idea for February.

President's Day Word Finds and Free Printable President's Day Coloring Pages:

This free printable word search for President's Day from akidsheart.com features the names of presidents inside of a flag shape.

ApplesforTeacher.com has an online word find game for President's Day here.

Apples4theteacher.com also has free printable coloring pages of the Presidents with several options for each President. Kids can also color the pages on line.

Whether it is called President's Day, Washington's Day or Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February is a presidential perfect day for learning history in the elementary classroom.

Sources:

Personal teaching experience

http://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/washington/

Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln by Patricia Polacco

So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George

President's Day by Anne Rockwell

http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/pres/printws.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/word-finds/presidents.html

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/presidents-day/washington-george/