Presidents’ Day is a holiday that celebrates two presidents of the United States: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. George Washington (1732-1799) was the first president of the United States and sometimes referred to as the father of the country. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th president of the United States. Presidents’ Day is celebrated in the United States on the third Monday in February.
Celebrate Presidents’ Day in your daycare center by reading age-appropriate stories that focus on great presidents, the presidency, and President’s Day-themed activities.
Presidents’ Day Arts and Crafts
Cherry Tree Finger Paint Craft
After describing the story of George Washington and the cherry tree implement this cherry tree fingerprint craft. Cover the craft table in butcher paper. Set out dishes of brown, green, and red finger paint. Provide each child with a large piece of construction paper. Let children create the trunk of the tree with brown finger paint. Then allow them to create the leaves of the tree with the green finer paint. Show the children how to create cherries on the tree but dipping one finger in the red paint and randomly dotting on cherries. Allow drying.
Abe Lincoln’s Log Cabin Craft
For each child, you will need a small plastic plate, a small milk carton, chocolate icing, and skinny short pretzels. First, help the children glue the milk carton to the plastic plate. Next, allow the children to frost the milk carton completely with icing. Finally, let the children attach the pretzels horizontally onto the carton to create the logs of the cabin.
Story Time: Preschool Books for Presidents’ Day
Recommended books about Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Presidents’ Day for Preschoolers:
- The Story of Abraham Lincoln by Patricia A. Pingry and Stephanie McFetridge Brit [Candy Cane Press, 2001]
- George Washington: Soldier, Hero, President by Justine Korman Fontes and Ron Fontes [DK Children, 2001]
- Abe Lincoln’s Hat by Martha Brenner and Donald Cook [Random House, 1994]
- George Washington and the General’s Dog by Frank Murphy and Richard Walz [Random House, 2002]
- My First President’s Day Book by Aileen Fisher and Lynda Halverson [Childrens PR, 1987]
- Celebrating President’s Day: What is a President by Kimberly Jordano and Tricia Callella-Jones [Creative Teaching Pr, 1999]
- Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell [HarperCollins, 2009]
- The Story of Gettysburg by Patricia A. Pingry and Stephanie McFetridge Brit [Ideal Publications, 2003]
Teaching preschoolers about President’s Day should focus on short biographies and thematic symbols in order to provide an introduction about the leaders of our country.
Cherry Tree Finger Paint Craft adapted from the Bright Hub website.
Log Cabin craft adapted from the A to Z Teacher’s Stuff website.