Writing Prompts for Presidents' Day

On the third Monday in February, Americans will not only be celebrating George Washington, but all presidents. Teachers will spend the entire month of February bringing Presidents' Day into the classroom with lesson plans, activities, games, and more. 

One way to celebrate Presidents' Day with students is through writing. Education World has gathered a list of writing prompts from outside resources that teachers can assign to their students to celebrate Presidents' Day. 

Lit Bridge:

• Write a poem about someone you wish could be president. This could be someone you personally know. 
• Write a poem about what the president symbolizes in the United States. Compare that with how presidents are symbolized in other countries. 
• Write a story about one of the older presidents such as George Washington, being transported to the future for an unknown amount of time. What happens next?
• Write a story where your character switches bodies with the president for a certain period of time. 

JournalBuddies:

• What qualities make a good president?
• Celebrating Presidents' Day is important because...
• What other presidents should be featured on coins and bills?
• If you could have dinner with any president, alive or dead, who would it be any why?

AboutEducation:

• Abraham Lincoln's Birthday Feb. 12: Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are as happy as they can make up their minds to be." What do you think he meant by that quote? Do you think it's true?
• George Washington's Birthday Feb. 22: The story that George Washington could not lie what asked if he cut down the cherry tree is not true. It was written after his death. Explain why you think a biography might create a story like this when writing about someone famous who they admire. 
• Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Feb. 24: Two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. However, no president has actually been removed from office. It only takes a simple majority of the House of Representatives to be impeached (or basically found guilty of a crime). However, it takes 2/3 of the Senate to remove a president from office. Explain why you think the founding fathers made this so difficult?

TheTeacher'sCorner:

• Today is Presidents' Day. This day honors two legendary American Presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Using resources in the classroom, learn five new facts about either president and summarize them in your own words. 
• George Washington: What do you think were the advantages and/or disadvantages to being our country's first president?

Article by Kassondra Granata, Education World Contributor