To help students become familiar with the images of U.S. presidents, print out coloring pages for the class. Since George Washington's birthday is celebrated on Presidents Day, print out his image and, after the kids color his picture, they can have a birthday cake at snack time to celebrate his birthday. The coloring and ensuing celebration will reinforce the fact that Presidents Day is closely linked to our first president, George Washington.
Abraham Lincoln's birthday is also during the month of February and a study of Lincoln may be incorporated in the kindergarten classroom as part of Presidents Day activities. Because Lincoln lived in a log cabin, children can create their own log cabin as an art project. The teacher will sketch a square design of a log cabin and copy the sketch so that each student has a page. Students can then glue Popsicle sticks onto the image of the cabin. The Popsicle sticks represent the logs. At the end of the activity, students will glue a penny (with the image of Abraham Lincoln face-up) onto the cabin in the place of doorknob.
Students can participate in a presidential fact-finding mission. Assign an important president to each student. As a homework assignment, parents will help students learn one interesting fact about each president. For example, the child who is given George Washington can report that George Washington had wooden teeth. Students will return to school with their information, and they will take turns sharing what they know with the class. Facts should be kept very simple and basic for kindergarten students.
To complete the Presidents Day activities, incorporate presidential story time in the classroom. Suggested book titles include: "George Washington: A Picture Book Biography" by James Cross Giblin, "George Washington's Teeth" by Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora, and "George Washington's Breakfast" by Jean Fritz. When the book of the day has been read, students may take turns sharing what they have learned.