Presidents' Day falls at such a nice time of year – towards the end of winter, before spring makes her entrance. It's the perfect time for a one-day party, in honor of two of our greatest presidents whose birthdays happen to fall in February. Here are some fun projects to teach your child about our first president, George Washington.
George Washington and the Cherry Tree
Retell the story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree. The story is a myth, but was invented to show George's character. You can find it in poetry-form on the History for Kids website. There is a printable coloring page of George Washington and the Cherry tree here. More coloring pages of George Washington, and here is a song to teach your child about him.
Make Cherry-Thumbprint cookies
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Maraschino cherries
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mix butter, yolks, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Stir in four and salt. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Press thumb down into center of dough. Place a maraschino cherry or a dollop of cherry jam into center of each cookie. Bake 8 minutes, cool. Store in air-tight container.
Play with Cherry-Scented play dough
Recipe:
- 2 cup cornstarch
- 2 cup baking soda
- 1 1/4 cup cold water
- red food coloring
- Cherry flavoring
Mix dry ingredients. Gradually add water, coloring and flavoring until smooth. Heat, stirring constantly until mashed potato consistency. Turn onto plate, cover with damp cloth, let cool. Knead dough. Set out small pie tins, rolling pins and cutters. Let children make pretend cherry pies.
Make a Mini Mount Rushmore
You will need a small amount of clay for each child, plus four coins: a quarter, a nickle, a dime and a penny. It is also nice to have a large photo of Mt. Rushmore to show your child. Have child build a small mountain range with four peaks close together. Then press one coin into the top of each peak in this order: Quarter on the left, then the nickle, dime and penny. The faces on the coins are to represent the faces on Mt. Rushmore. Explain to your child that although Teddy Roosevelt is on Mt. Rushmore, it is Franklin Roosevelt on the dime.
Playdough is not the best for this project, as it does not dry out well. Either dig or buy clay, or you can make a suitable "modeling" clay out of nothing but white flour and water. After forming the mountain and adding the coins, place the project in a moderate oven (200ºF) and bake about an hour or until dry. Then let your child paint the finished mountain in his favorite color.
Note for the teacher: The four faces were chosen to represent the first 150 years of American history. Each president was important in preserving the Union or expanding the territory. Washington is the Father of our Nation. Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and responsible for the Louisiana Purchase. Roosevelt, is the Father of Conservation to preserve our natural heritage, and Lincoln, of course, is credited as preserving the Union.
Do Pencil Rubbings of Presidents
Lay thin white paper over various coins. Rub the side of a pencil lead over the area, revealing the face below. Talk with your child about the different presidents.
Read a Picture Book About George Washington
There are many good books to chose from, including A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler, and George Washington: A Picture Book Biography, by James Cross Giblin. Unless you reserve a copy in advance, you might not be able to find them in the library. Paperback copies are available through online stores.
George Washington Crossing the Delaware
Read about, or tell your child the story of George Washington crossing the icy Delaware River in a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, N.J. Show your child a picture of the famous oil painting. Then fill a sink with cold water and dump several trays of ice cubes into the water. Add some toy boats. Let your child play in the water. Talk about how cold his fingers are, and help him to understand how dangerous it was for Washington's soldiers on the Delaware River. Let him explore different objects, to see what sinks or floats. When he is done playing, make him a cup of cocoa to warm him up.
Make a Letter W Collage
Cut a large, thick W shape from sturdy paper or cardboard. Help your child to find pictures of things that start with the sound of the letter W, cut them out and paste them onto the letter shape. Look for pictures of water, something white, a walrus, watermelon, a witch, wading pool, waffles, a wagon, a walker, wallet, wallpaper, walnut, washing machine, wash tub, waste paper basket, watch, a wand, wedding cake or dress, weeds or weed killer, weights, welcome mat, whale, wheat germ (sprinkle grains of wheat germ onto glue), whistle, wigwam, wildflower, wind sock or wind chimes, wine, a wing nut, winter, wolf, woman, wood, wool, a wreath, wrapping paper, and a wristband. What W words can you think of? Help your young child to make the "W" sound. Teach him to say "Washington".
Make a Paper Flag
Help your child make a flag from construction paper. Cut strips of red, and glue them on white paper. Cut a blue square, glue it to the upper left corner. Attach gold stars to the blue. Teach your child to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Decorate your house for President's Day
Show your child how to twist red and white crepe paper streamers. Hang streamers from ceiling over the kitchen or dining table. Use a blue table cloth, or blue paper plates and napkins. Hang blue balloons, or red, white and blue balloons. Frost a cake with white frosting and decorate it with red and blue. Play the National Anthem when you cut the cake after dinner.
Related articles:
Presidents Day Activities for Preschool - Abraham Lincoln
Ten Rainy Day Activities for Children
Ten Valentine's Day Activities for Little Children
Preschool Learning Activities You Can Do at Home
Sources:
Dahlstrom, Kendra, "George Washington Preschool Activities", Brighthub.com. Accessed February 8, 2010.
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