8 Fun and Informational Presidents’ Day Activities

Header image with “Presidents' Day Activities” text over a crowd holding American flags at a patriotic event.

With Presidents’ Day quickly approaching, it’s time to think about how we can incorporate the holiday into our lesson plans. I recommend using Presidents’ Day activities that focus on reading and writing. This is a simple way to ensure you’re both covering your content standards, and including holiday background into your instruction!

Reading Activities About the Presidents’ Day Holiday

Collage of picture books about Presidents' Day, including “If I Ran for President,” “Ellie May on Presidents' Day,” and “Presidents’ Day.”

Learning about the holiday can be fun, especially when we start with engaging read alouds. We want our kiddos to learn about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and why we celebrate Presidents’ Day in the first place! Additionally, you should add books that allow your students to connect, like If I Ran for President and Ellie May on Presidents’ Day. Any of these themed stories can be used to teach your current ELA content skills, like story retelling, content vocabulary, character traits, inferring, etc.

These three book links are affiliate links to Amazon!

Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell
Ellie May on Presidents’ Day by Hillary Homzie
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier

Show Presidential and Voting Learning Videos

Laptop showing a BrainPOP Jr. presidential lesson with Moby and a child in a classroom scene.

Another way to introduce the holiday is with instructional videos. BrainPOP and BrainPOP, Jr. have great videos on presidents and their duties. These will help your students understand what a president’s job is and what it takes to be a president!

Tablet displaying a BrainPOP lesson about presidential power, shown on a desk with notebooks and tape.

I usually recommend using BrainPOP, Jr. for your primary (K-3) kiddos and BrainPOP for the intermediate students (4-5). However, this will depend on your students’ needs!

Shift To Individual Presidents’ Day Activities

Set of Joe Biden reading activities including a cut-and-paste timeline, booklet, and illustrated worksheets.

After your introduction to Presidents’ Day, you will want to shift your instruction. Now, you can use reading activities to focus on individual presidents. As students read and learn about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and even President Joe Biden, they can apply important nonfiction reading skills.

The picture above is a snapshot of some of the activities included in my Presidents’ Day Activities Unit. There is a mini-book, research activity, snip and flipbook, and a cut-and-paste timeline. They are simple and engaging for students and can be used for whole-group, small-group, partner work, centers, or independent work time. These are a few of the Presidents’ Day reading and writing activities included in the unit, which covers Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and our current president, Joe Biden.

Writing Activities for Presidents’ Day

George Washington writing activities including research pages, acrostic poem, informational writing templates, and notebook inserts.

Similarly, I would recommend using writing graphic organizers for your Presidents’ Day activities. Students can practice their research and informational writing easily. They can even practice word choice and rhythm with poetry writing!

Notebook page with the heading “Dear Madam Vice President,” next to a pen and basket of markers.

I don’t know about your students, but mine have always been excited to write to the president or write about being the president!

“If I were the president…” writing prompt on a blue worksheet next to notebook paper and classroom supplies.

Creating real-life writing experiences will motivate your students and focus their writing skills. Plus, they require little more than a pencil and paper!

Incorporate Digital Activities, Too

Student holding a tablet showing a Presidents' Day discussion prompt on Flipgrid.

If you’re looking for digital Presidents’ Day reading and writing activities, think presentation time! I know I have recommended FLIPGRID before, and I will do it again! This is perfect for digital inclusion or virtual instruction. Each of your students can make their own FLIPGRID presentation to present to the class. This project will involve reading, research, writing, speaking and listening, and more! Students can create a project about a specific president, one they’ve studied in class, or even one that is significant to them. To make it interactive, require your students to view others’ presentations, comment and provide feedback.

Laptop displaying a digital drag-and-drop activity about Joe Biden with images and informational text.

Finally, if you’re still teaching in a virtual or hybrid setting, the digital version of these activities is here for you! All of the units I have linked will include digital, ready-to-share activities. Your students can work on them from anywhere! And you can, too!