INTERACTIVE GAME SITES
WITH A PRESIDENTIAL FOCUS

• IF YOU WERE PRESIDENT
  Students work through this Scholastic simulation to help them learn some of the important decisions they would have to make if they took on the job of President.
• PRESIDENT FOR A DAY
  Students apply for the job of President and experience a day in the life of a President as they work through this PBS online activity.
• FIRST DAY ON THE JOB
  "You got the nomination, you campaigned, you won. Then you took the oath of office, made the first speech of your administration, and danced the night away. With any luck, you finally got some sleep in that old house you’re borrowing on Pennsylvania Avenue. But now it’s morning in America—time to face the Oval Office. It’s YOUR chance to be President of the United States. Let’s see how you do."
• SCAVENGER HUNT
  Students will use clues to find all the pictures of the items on the Scavenger Hunt list. Of course, all the pictures have something to do with Presidents!
• HANGMAN
  Students will enjoy playing this interactive presidential version of hangman. This is a great activity for students any age. Quia also offers a president hangman game that is a little more visual (students can actually see the hangman).
• CARVING PRESIDENTS
  Sculptor Gutzon Borglum needs help! Answer questions about the Presidents to help sculpt Mt Rushmore.
• THE FIRST DOGS GAME
  Match the Presidents with their "Best Friends" in this pet-friendly presidential game.
  

TIMELINE TOOLS

• THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY:
  A GLORIOUS BURDEN
  The Smithsonian has posted a fascinating site that allows students to click on a timeline of presidents---each click introduces students to the president along with some interesting objects associated with that president.
• WHO, WHAT, WHEN INTERACTIVE
  HISTORICAL TIMELINES
  WhoWhatWhen is a database of people and events from 1000 A.D. to the present. Students can type in a date, name, or description to create graphic timelines of periods in history and of the lives of individuals. You must have java enabled to view the interactive timelines.

PRESIDENTS' DAY
WORKSHEETS AND STATIONARY

Print a patriotic stationary for student writing assignments or encourage students to make their own stationary using presidential clipart from Kids Domain.

Teachers can download an excellent packet of materials (in .pdf format) developed by kindergarten teachers for younger students. Students will learn about George Washington's life, his career, and his contributions to our country. Basic map skills, hands-on crafts, and vocabulary cards are all written in to this unit of five lesson plans.

Teachers can also print Presidents' Day coloring pages found at PrimaryGames.com.

ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS FOR
PRIMARY AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Enchanted Learning offers a number of activities and projects that will help young students learn more about President's Day, the national holiday that was originally designated as a day to celebrate George Washington's birthday. Many people consider President's Day a day to honor both George Washington (born on Feb. 22, 1732) and Abraham Lincoln (born on Feb. 12, 1809). Some of the activities you will find include: creating a log cabin model, designing a cherry tree poster, president print-outs, etc. You will find a countless number of activities appropriate for younger students. Many of the worksheets that can be printed out would also be appropriate for older students who need easy-to-read materials.

PRESIDENT BIOGRAPHIES

Use the following links to access biographical information about the Presidents:

• American Experience - biographical information about the Presidents and special sections for teachers and students.
• American President: An Online Reference Resource - posted by the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, this comprehensive site includes biographical informtion, links to photographs, information about speeches, information about the Presidents' administrations and more.
• Learn Out Loud: U.S. Presidents Podcast - "Each episode will provide a brief biographical portrait of each president, explore the eras in which they led the country, and access the historical significance they hold for us today."
• Official Presidents of the Whitehouse

WEBQUESTS:

There are a number of excellent webquests designed for all ages. Below you will find several webquests that have been researched and checked for content:

• PRESIDENTS WEBQUEST
  Upper elementary students (4th, 5th grade) will complete this Webquest on the American Presidents by selecting a favorite president to research and design a tri-folder brochure. Even if you choose not to use the webquest with students all the resources found in this webquest are excellent and worth looking at for background information about the presidents.
• MEET YOUR NEW PRESIDENTS
  The navigation in this Meet Your New President webquest can be a little tricky, but the task of this webquest is quite interesting. Students will determine whether a series of preselected candidates (Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. were the examples used; clearly, other candidates could be substituted) would be eligible to run for the presidency. Then the students will present their candidate's platform, create posters, and debate in front of their classmates. The quest targets 6th graders.

INAUGURATION CEREMONIES

Did you know that Inaugural ceremonies for our Presidents have featured famous American poets, including Robert Frost for President John F. Kennedy, and Maya Angelou, speaking for President Clinton's inauguration?

You can access the texts of their poems at this site, as well as learn about other events that make up Inaugural History. After completing the reading students can complete either a novice or expert version of an online quiz.

WOMEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE

While celebrating Presidents' Day, don't forget the key women behind the men. Students will select and research the accomplishments of one First Lady using numerous online resources, drawing up a list of interview questions provided at the EdSitement Thinkfinity site. Teams will create a class presentation, and finally, consider how, when a woman is finally elected as the American President, the First Gentleman might fulfill his role.

SOUND CLIPS FROM THE U.S. PRESIDENTS

What better way to learn about the American Presidents than to listen to their words--in their own voices?

• Grolier's offers a site where students will be able to listen to some fairly extensive audio files that are an audible piece of history. Find extensive audio files here to listen to these
  moments of history.
• The History Place also features presidential sounds of history.
• Learn Out Loud - listen to recordings of presidents that date back to President Benjamin Harrison in the late nineteenth century to the present day Bush Administration.

POLITICAL CARTOONS

• Visit the Slate Cartoonists Index to view several lesson plans that focus on the use of political cartoons. The site is geared to teachers.
• Herblock's History site provides information about political cartoons from the crash to the millenium.

INTERNET FIELD TRIPS

Students will be guided using this Scholastic sponsored Internet Field Trip to take a virtual tour of Abraham Lincoln's life and career. Included are several resources for his writings, speeches, and major events during his Presidency.

Students can visit the Mt. Vernon web site to virtually tour the George Washington's mansion. The tour can be see in flash or normal view.

Tour the White House when you go to the White House Video Tours page.

ANOTHER PATRIOTIC SITE...

You may want to check out the following website to learn more about the United States. Simply click on the image below to go to the site.