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Hail to the Chief:
Lessons for Presidents' Day
Observed on the third Monday each February, Presidents' Day is a holiday that lends itself to classroom activities and online exploration. As a tribute to all past presidents, Education World invites you and your students to tour the White House or design a presidential monument with these legendary lessons. Included: Five fabulous activities for 43 presidents!
The third Monday of February is Presidents' Day, a national holiday in the United States. Once a celebration of George Washington's birthday, the holiday was renamed by President Richard Nixon in 1971 to honor all past presidents of the United States. If you are seeking classroom-ready resources about the presidents and the place they call home -- the White House -- look no further than the Internet. The Web puts the "dub-yuh" in Washington, White House, and George W. Bush!
This week, in recognition of Presidents' Day, Education World offers five lessons about the presidents. Click on each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource.
Be sure to see our brief list of the best Internet sources for teaching kids about the presidents and the presidency, just below this week's lesson headlines.
Help Wanted: President of the United States
Students research the requirements and responsibilities of the job of president and write help wanted ads for the position. Help Wanted work sheet included.
A Monument, Please, for the Big Cheese
After reading about the presidents online, students select one leader and design a monument that reflects his life and accomplishments.
'They Just Come and Go' -- A Debate About the White House
Put students' natural debating skills to good use as they study issues involving the White House.
Every Day Is Presidents' Day at the White House
Young children will enjoy this introduction to the job of president as they role-play being the president!
Using Primary Sources: Letters from the Presidents
Older students get to know the presidents a little better by reading their actual letters.
PRESIDENTIAL SITES TO SEE!
Certainly one the finest resources for presidential history is the White House Web site. The site includes two versions: one for adults and mature students and the other for children. Both offer White House history and biographies. Presidential pets Spotty and Barney, the family dogs, and India, a cat, guide young visitors through the rooms of the mansion in the White House for Kids. Don't forget to visit Ofelia, the "first cow"!
For the best presidential pages on the Web, check out the Internet Public Library's POTUS. POTUS is short for Presidents of the United States. This site includes background information about the presidents, election results, cabinet members and links to other good resources. Another valuable resource comes from the Library of Congress. At its site America's Library, students will find a Presidents Scavenger Hunt and the Dynamite Presidents Game.
With The American Presidency, Grolier meets the needs of every student by presenting presidential history and biographies at various grade levels. Video and sound clips make this historical adventure more interesting and fun, and quizzes designed for each online encyclopedia keep young historians on task and as Honest as Abe!
Cara Bafile
Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World
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