Presidents' Day Activities
The third Monday in February is the annual observance of Presidents' Day. We offer several excellent activities to teach students about the Presidents of the United States!
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A Brief History of Presidents' Day
1796
The country first celebrated the birthday of George Washington during the last full year he was President.
1866
One year after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address on his birthday, February 12. Although Lincoln's birthday became a holiday in many states, it never became an official federal holiday.
1885
Washington's Birthday was originally implemented by the federal government in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices.
1968
Congress passed legislation moving the observance of George Washington's birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February.
1971
The legislation passed in 1968 took effect in 1971. Some people think that the legislation combined the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington to create Presidents' Day. Congress never combined Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays. The holiday is still officially called Washington's Birthday, though many private employers and calendar makers refer to it as Presidents' Day.
Presidents' Day Activities
"Meet Our Presidents" Bulletin Board
Students use resources from library and/or Internet resources to create a bulletin board.
Presidents Picture Book
Students create a picture book of the U.S. presidents.
Presidential Powers
Students study the section of the Constitution that refers to the executive branch and write a proposal for a new power for the president of the United States.
President for a Day
Students imagine they are president of the United States for one day! What would they do? What would their day be like?
Presidential Monuments
Students create a new monument for a U.S. president.
Presidential Time Line
Students create a time line about the presidents of the United States.
We're in the Money
Presidents' Day is a great time to teach kids about money and its value. Every time we spend a dime (or a penny or a dollar), after all, we see the faces of those great leaders!
The Presidency
This monthly themed content package offers interdisciplinary activity ideas, TV programs and online resources for your classroom.
U.S. Presidents on the Internet
Biographical, historical, and political resources -- plus photos, autographs, lists, trivia and more.
Additional Online Resources
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