Read-aloud Rating
Why do we celebrate Presidents' Day, and what can we learn from past presidents about leadership?
StoryPlan Overview
Age Range: 7–9
Lesson Focus: Understanding the significance of Presidents’ Day and the contributions of notable U.S. presidents.
Themes: Presidents’ Day, Leadership, American History
Objective: Students will learn about the origins of Presidents’ Day, key facts about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and the qualities that make an effective leader.
Essential Question: Why do we celebrate Presidents’ Day, and what can we learn from past presidents about leadership?
Book Summary:
Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell is a picture book that introduces young readers to the significance of Presidents’ Day through the story of Mrs. Madoff’s class preparing and performing a play about prominent figures in American history. The narrative highlights the contributions of presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, providing a foundation for understanding the holiday and its importance.
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Vocabulary List:
President: The elected leader of a country.
Democracy: A system of government where the people have the power to make decisions through voting.
Election: The process by which people vote to choose a leader or decide on an issue.
Leadership: The act of guiding or directing a group.
Honesty: The quality of being truthful and fair.
Courage: The ability to do something difficult or dangerous despite fear.
Legacy: Something handed down from the past, such as achievements or traditions.
Patriotism: Love and devotion to one’s country.
Abolish: To formally put an end to a system or practice.
Emancipation: The act of freeing someone from slavery or oppression.
Materials:
Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell
Chart paper and markers
Construction paper, scissors, glue, and coloring supplies
Printed images of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the White House
Index cards
Access to a computer or tablet for virtual tours
Prompt (Estimated Time: 10 minutes)
Engagement Activity:
Begin by asking students if they know why we celebrate Presidents’ Day.
Show images of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and ask if they can identify these individuals.
Explain that Presidents’ Day is a holiday to honor the leaders of our country, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Pre-Reading Discussion:
What qualities do you think make a good leader?
Why is it important to remember and learn about past presidents?
How do you think Presidents’ Day is celebrated in schools and communities?
UDL Strategies:
Use visual aids to support understanding.
Encourage students to share their thoughts verbally or through drawings.
Provide sentence starters for students who may need assistance expressing their ideas.
Learn (Estimated Time: 20 minutes)
Read-Aloud Strategies:
Read Presidents’ Day aloud to the class, showing illustrations to enhance comprehension.
Pause to discuss key events and characters in the story.
Highlight important vocabulary words and their meanings in context.
Interactive Elements:
Assign students roles from the book’s play, and have them act out parts as you read.
Use a timeline to place the presidencies of Washington and Lincoln in historical context.
Discussion Questions:
Why did Mrs. Madoff’s class decide to put on a play for Presidents’ Day?
How did the students choose which presidents to portray?
What did you learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln from the story?
UDL Strategies:
Provide opportunities for students to respond in various ways (e.g., verbally, through drawing, or acting).
Use graphic organizers to help students organize information about the presidents.
Allow students to work in pairs or small groups to discuss questions before sharing with the class.
Ask (Estimated Time: 15 minutes)
Discussion Strategies:
Conduct a whole-class discussion to delve deeper into the themes of the book.
Use a talking stick or another method to ensure all students have the opportunity to share.
Guided Discussion Questions:
What are some challenges George Washington faced as the first president?
How did Abraham Lincoln demonstrate courage during his presidency?
Why is honesty an important quality for a leader?
How can we show patriotism in our daily lives?
What lessons can we learn from past presidents that apply to our own lives?
Navigate (Estimated Time: 20 minutes)
Activity: Create a Presidential Medal
- Provide students with a circle-shaped piece of paper (representing a medal).
- Have students design their own Presidential Medal for a leader.
- Each student should:
- Choose a quality that makes a great president (e.g., honesty, bravery, kindness).
- Write the name of a president (or a leader they admire) who demonstrates that quality.
- Decorate their medal using crayons, markers, or stickers.
UDL Strategies:
- Offer pre-cut templates for students who may need help with fine motor skills.
- Provide sentence starters for students who need assistance in writing their responses.
- Allow students to work in pairs or small groups if they prefer collaborative work.
Share (Estimated Time: 10 minutes)
Closing Discussion:
- Why do we celebrate Presidents’ Day?
- How did George Washington and Abraham Lincoln help shape the country?
- What qualities do great leaders have?
- What can we do every day to show leadership at school and at home?
- If you could be president for a day, what would you do?
Look-fors:
- Students can identify why Presidents’ Day is important.
- Students can describe at least one leadership quality they admire in a president.
- Students actively participate in discussions and demonstrate understanding of leadership traits.
UDL Strategies:
- Provide exit tickets where students write or draw one thing they learned.
- Use thumbs up/down or a gesture-based response for quick feedback.
- Allow students to record an audio or video reflection if they prefer verbal expression.
Additional Activities
Quick Activity: Presidential Timeline Match-Up
- Print and cut out images of U.S. presidents and key events in history.
- Have students match the presidents with their accomplishments (e.g., Lincoln → Emancipation Proclamation).
- Encourage discussion about how these actions shaped the country.
Extension Activity: Presidential Speech Writing
- Have students imagine they are running for president and write a short speech.
- Speech should include:
- Their campaign slogan
- A promise to help the country
- A leadership quality they have
- Students can present their speech to the class.
Literacy Skill Activity: Fact vs. Myth Sorting Game
- Provide statements about past presidents, mixing real facts with common myths (e.g., “George Washington had wooden teeth” – Myth!).
- Students will sort the statements into “Fact” or “Myth” categories.
- Discuss how history gets told in different ways and the importance of checking facts.
Metatags
- Ages: 7–9
- Content Areas: History, Leadership, Civic Engagement
- Competencies: Critical Thinking, Communication, Historical Understanding
- Activities: Art, Writing, Discussion, Role-Playing
- Calendar Events: Presidents’ Day (Third Monday in February), Election Day (First Tuesday in November), Constitution Day (September 17)