Our Presidents

February 15 is Presidents' Day! Here are some suggestions on how your students can honor our former presidents'.

Grace Bedell, an 11-year-old girl, wrote to Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and advised him to grow a beard. He listened – and won the presidential election! Have your students write a letter to our President with some advice of their own.

George Washington had a horse named Nelson. Abraham Lincoln had a turkey named Jack. Which other presidents have had pets? Have students research the answer.

Almost every U.S. coin features a president: Franklin Roosevelt is on the dime and Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Kennedy appear on other coins. Have your students create a list of all the presidential coins.

Take your class on a tour of the White House at "Inside the White House", where students can watch a series of videos that will give them a behind-the-scenes look at life at the White House. Included are interviews with the Marine Sentries who guard the West Wing, an exclusive look inside one of the most secure spaces in the country, the White House Situation Room, a look at the White House bees and a peek at what's growing in the White House's kitchen garden.

Graph the Presidents At Inauguration: How Old Were They?
Using this activity students can graph the presidents' ages at inauguration. Who was the youngest president? the oldest?

Tree of Presidents Craft
In this project, the Presidents of the United States are represented by leaves on a tree. This project is good for a group of children (it is too big a project for one child).

The Presidents
Since George Washington's election in 1789, 44 men have served as President of the United States. They have led in times of peace and war, hardship and plenty, and served in tenures as short as one month and as long as 12 years. Learn more about America's Presidents.