| Volume 6, Issue 2
January 21, 2008
A WORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE'S THEME
Join us as we celebrate Presidents' Day with poems, songs, and more.
It's Presidents' Day, It's Presidents' Day!
Let's raise our flags and then,
 Remember all the presidents
Today and way back when.
It's Presidents' Day, It's Presidents' Day!
Let's raise our flags and then,
Hear stories of our presidents
Strong leaders and brave men.
It's Presidents' Day, It's Presidents' Day!
Let's raise our flags and then,
Let's march around our room,
And sit back down again.
Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
ACTIVITY IDEAS
STRINGS OF STARS
Pre cut enough 5-point stars to give each child five. Let children use markers, crayons, and glitter to decorate their stars. Give each child about 2 feet of red, white, or blue string/yarn. Next, help children fold over one point of each of their five stars. Hang each star's fold over the string, leaving extra yarn at the ends for hanging. Staple or glue each star's fold closed over the string. Decorate your classroom with your children's string of stars.
PRETTY PENNIES
Ask each child to bring in a Lincoln penny. Next give each child 3 pre-cut paper circles:
- a red five-inch circle
- a white 3-inch circle
- a blue 2-inch circle
Let children glue the three circles together: glue the white circle onto the red circle. Glue the blue circle onto the white. Now help children glue their Lincoln penny in the middle of the blue circle (Lincoln side up). When the glue has dried, punch a hole near the top of the circles. String about 2-feet of yarn through the hole and tie it. Let children wear their necklaces to celebrate Lincoln's birthday or Presidents' Day.
A GEORGE WASHINGTON FINGER PUPPET
Ask each child to bring in a George Washington quarter. Give each child a 3-inch square of blue construction paper. Help children roll the paper around one of their fingers and tape the tube closed. Slip the tube off each child's finger. Next, tape each child's quarter to the top of the blue paper tube. Give each child a 1-1/2 inch square of blue paper. Show children how to fold it corner to corner to make a triangle. Glue this "hat" to the top of the finger puppet. (If you don't want to ask students to bring in a quarter, you might scan or photocopy a page of quarters to use with this activity. You might even use the enlarge capability on your copier to make the image of Washington's head a bit larger than that on an actual quarter.)
MAKE CHEERY CHERRY TREATS
Purchase several rolls of refrigerated unbaked crescent rolls. Use a rolling pin to flatten one each roll of dough. Cut small rectangular pieces of dough, 2 pieces per child. On top of one piece of the dough, let each child place a tablespoon of cherry pie filling. Place the other piece of dough on top of the pie filling and pinch all the edges together. Bake according to the package directions and let cool. Serve for children to enjoy on Presidents' Day.
WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT DO?
Talk briefly with children about how our president is the leader of our country. You may want to include that he has advisors who help him and that he has an office in the White House in Washington, D.C. Then gather children together in a circle. Pose this question: "What do you think the president does all day?" Solicit a reply from each student and record each reply at the bottom of a large piece of drawing paper. When everyone has had a turn, give each child his/her drawing paper and reply. Invite children to illustrate their visions of what our president does each day.
ON THE WEB
Check out the following Web sites for additional background and activities.
U.S. Presidents United in Service
Find out about some past presidents and get president coloring pages to print out.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidentsday/
Presidents' Day
Get more activity ideas and some fun songs -- right here.
http://ilovangels.angelcities.com/PresidentsDay.html
Presidents' Day
A virtual museum on Washington and Lincoln. Includes suggested activities and books.
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/presidentsday/
Presidents' Day Art
You'll find some cute ideas here!
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/presidents_day_art.htm
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