Celebrate Presidents Day

Here are a few presidential websites you and your child should check out.

Did George Washington wear a wig? Did he really chop down a cherry tree? The answers to these questions and more can be found at www.mountvernon.org. Click on “Learn,” and then click on “Meet George Washington” to navigate to the interactive timeline.

If your child would like to learn about the life of Abraham Lincoln, check out
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/listen_read_7/lincoln-path-president.asp to read Scholastic News Online. Each page is read aloud to your child, so even children at the early elementary level can take advantage of this website.

For children age 8 and older, you may want to challenge them to write a short biography on either George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Visit http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident or www.apples4theteacher.com for some fast facts on both presidents. Facts about family life, careers, presidential terms, nicknames and more can be found at these sites.

Instead of writing a traditional biography, which some children find tedious, have some fun with it. Share with your child the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. On poster board, or on construction paper, create a cherry tree, and on each cherry, write one fact about George Washington. You can keep it simple with just paper and crayons, or you can get really creative with materials from a craft store to make the report three-dimensional.

If your child would prefer to write a biography on Abraham Lincoln, you could draw a top hat on paper, or create a three-dimensional top hat using black construction paper. Then, list facts about Abe Lincoln on the top hat. Have your child share the report with the family.

Another option would be to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the lives of these two famous presidents. Challenge your child to find at least three similarities and three differences between Washington and Lincoln.

If your child enjoys performing, then a reader's theater would be a fantastic way to celebrate Presidents Day. Visit Weekly Reader to download a free reader's theater play about the election of President Lincoln. There are enough parts for friends and family to participate.