Presidents’ Day is coming up and I wanted to help you get a jump on your Presidents’ Day Unit Study planning! I’ve gathered up some great activities and resources that focus on the two American presidents we’re celebrating – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In fact, the combination of materials in this post is enough to put together a comprehensive Presidents’ Day unit study.
When I collect resources to share, I put a special emphasis on activities that engage children who don’t learn well with endless paper and pencil activities. You will find some more traditional learning activities here, but my focus is on highly-engaging learning for active kids who learn differently. I hope you enjoy this Presidents’ Day Unit Study!
If unit studies are new to you, check out my post on How to Create a Unit Study. I have created this Unit Study Planner and Flexible Unit Study Printables you can get by subscribing at the end of this post. It contains 21 pages of unit study printables and worksheets that can be used with virtually any learning theme. All of the single page unit study printables shown on this page are included.
This free unit study planner page is included.
Presidents’ Day KWL
Start your Presidents Day unit study off with a KWL. KWL stands for Know, Want to know, and Learned.
Your learner lets you know what she already knows about the topic, what she wants to know, and (at the end) what she has learned. KWLs are a great way to document your child’s learning.
If your learner prefers something with a bit more color, this Presidents’ Day KWL is available in my shop.
History of Presidents’ Day
Do you know how we came to have a Presidents’ Day? The Wikipedia entry has a brief history that includes the different names the holiday is given in different states.
This is a good introductory video for younger children.
Presidents’ Day Lapbook
This Presidents’ Day Lapbook (or Interactive Notebook) is a great way to learn about the holiday as well as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
This is an easy to assemble lapbook and it looks great when it is done.
It is especially designed to work well with reluctant writers or children who struggle with writing.
The Presidents Day Lapbook or Interactive Notebook is available here.
Presidents’ Day Recipes
What are some of the favorite foods of President Washington and President Lincoln? Here are some that your child can make and try!
George Washington’s Favorite Foods
- Information on Dining at Mount Vermon
- Hoe Cake
- George Washington Great Cake, 1780 recipe
- Mary Ball Washington Gingerbread
Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods
Presidents’ Day Picture Books
Presidents’ Day
Celebrating President’s Day: What Is a President?Presidents’ DayPresidents’ Day
George Washington Mini Biography
For your visual learners, here is a short biography about Washington.
Abraham Lincoln Mini Biography
And here is another one in the same series about Lincoln.
Children’s Books about Washington, Lincoln, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War
National Geographic Readers: George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonRevolutionary War on WednesdayThe American Revolution: Early AmericaDK Eyewitness Books: American RevolutionNational Geographic Readers: Abraham LincolnDK Eyewitness Books: Civil WarIf You Were a Kid During the Civil War
Spelling Words
Use some or all of these for your spelling list!
- Abraham Lincoln
- George Washington
- inauguration
- slavery
- president
- American Revolution
- Civil War
- Delaware River
- Mount Vernon
- Ford’s Theater
- Martha Washington
- Mary Todd Lincoln
- Illinois
- Virginia
- senator
Presidents’ Day Word Search Puzzle
Use these words to create a word search!
George Washington Picture Books
Learn more about George Washington from his boyhood through his presidency.
Take the Lead, George Washington: An Inspirational Biography of the Childhood Years of the First U.S. President!A Picture Book of George WashingtonGeorge Washington’s CowsGeorge Washington: A Picture Book BiographyGeorge: George Washington, Our Founding Father (Mount Rushmore Presidential Series)When Washington Crossed the DelawareGeorge Washington: The First PresidentGeorge Washington: Farmer, Soldier, PresidentGeorge Washington’s BreakfastRow, Row, Row the Boats: A Fun Song About George Washington Crossing the DelawareGeorge Washington and the Story of the U.s. Constitution
Abraham Lincoln Picture Books
Read all about this remarkable man in a variety of picture books.
Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved BooksAbraham LincolnAbraham (Mount Rushmore Presidential Series)A Picture Book of Abraham LincolnMy First Biography: Abraham LincolnAbe Lincoln’s HatWhere’s Your Hat, Abe Lincoln?Abraham Lincoln: Lawyer, President, Emancipator
Presidents’ Day Venn Diagram
Complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Online Tour
The official Mount Vernon website is excellent and has many wonderful resources for those of us who don’t live close enough to see the estate in person. It includes videos, pictures and educational materials.
Virtual Tour of Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois Home
See Lincoln’s home
Creative Ideas
Design a postage stamp to celebrate either Washington, Lincoln, or both.
Using the videos in this post as a guide, create a diorama of one of their homes.
Create a travel brochure for Mount Vernon or Lincoln’s Illinois home.
Pretend you could interview either Washington or Lincoln. Which would you choose? Write down 3-5 questions you would ask. Then write a newspaper article with what you think their answers would be.
Write a timeline of the most important events in Washington’s life or Lincoln’s life.
U. S. Presidents Fun Fact Cards
If you and your children want to learn about many of the presidents this month, check out my U.S. Presidents Fun Fact Cards. This is a collection of fascinating facts that you won’t find everywhere. I guarantee you will learn some fun things along with your children while using these!
U.S. Presidents Fun Fact CardsBuy Now
U.S. Presidents Copywork
Your learners can also enjoy practicing their handwriting with the fun facts in copywork form. The copywork is available in print, cursive, and a print/cursive bundle.
U.S. Presidents Copywork – Print and CursiveBuy NowU.S. Presidents Cursive CopyworkBuy NowU.S. Presidents Print CopyworkBuy Now
Ford’s Theater Museum
Take an online tour and see the highlights of the museum at Ford’s Theater.
George Washington Costumes and Colonial Creative Play Costumes
If you have a creative child, then role playing can be one of the most effective ways to learn. Here are some fantastic children’s costumes for George Washington, Martha Washington, and other relevant people during his term in office.
George Washington Children’s CostumeMartha Washington Children’s CostumeColonial Boy Children’s CostumeGeorge Washington CostumeWhite Colonial Child Wig and Tricorn HatAmerican Colonial Girl CostumeColonial Girl CostumeBetsy Ross CostumeColonial Lady Costume
Abraham Lincoln Costumes and Civil War Creative Play Costumes
And here are costumes from Abraham Lincoln’s time in office.
Honest Abe Lincoln Children’s CostumeAbraham Lincoln CostumeAbe Lincoln CostumeSusan B. Anthony/Harriet Tubman Girl CostumeCivil War Nurse CostumeUnion Officer CostumeConfederate Officer CostumeSouthern Belle CostumeSouthern Belle CostumeSouthern Bell CostumeGeorgia Peach Costume
Abraham Lincoln in The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has an online collection of materials about Abraham Lincoln that you can peruse with your children. There is lots there to provoke discussions about all aspects of Lincoln’s life.
Presidents’ Day Writing and Notebooking Pages
Do some creative writing for Presidents’ Day! This Presidents’ Day Notebooking Pages includes both standard and primary lines in each design.
Presidents’ Day Notebooking PagesBuy Now
What Was in Lincoln’s Pockets?
See the contents of President Lincoln’s pockets in this short video filmed at the Library of Congress.
Presidents’ Day Activity Books and Coloring Books
Word searches, coloring pages, and other pencil activities are all great ways for children to learn!
Homes of the American Presidents Coloring BookAmerican Presidents Activity BookPresidents Activity BookAll About the Presidents Search-a-Word PuzzlesPresidents Facts and Fun Activity BookAbraham Lincoln Coloring Book
America Notebooking Pages, Literacy and Math Activities
If you want to go beyond Presidents’ Day materials this month and focus on America in multiple areas, here are four more products with activities to last for weeks!
I Love America Patriotic Notebooking PagesBuy NowAmerica Literacy and Math PackBuy NowAmerica Literacy ActivitiesBuy NowAmerica Math ActivitiesBuy Now
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