President’s Day Activities: Exploring American Presidents for Kids

President’s Day is officially celebrated on the third Monday of February, but there’s no reason why you can’t keep the learning going all throughout the year! In this article, you’ll find several activities and resources you can use to make it fun to learn about American presidents for kids and adults alike. We hope it makes exploring American presidents for kids both fun and educational!

What is President’s Day?

President’s Day (though initially dedicated to honoring our nation’s first president, George Washington), is a federal holiday where we celebrate all of the people who have served in the role of President of the United States. Many states also use the occasion to specifically celebrate Abraham Lincoln, who (like Washington) was born in February.

 

Fun and Educational President’s Day Activities for Kids

 

If I Were the President Activity Pack

This printable activity pack encourages kids to tap into their big imaginations and pretend that they’re the president. What kind of president would they be? What kind of impact would they make on the country? The 11 prompts and art activity will help them gain a deeper understanding (and respect) for the role of president — it can also help empower them in the belief that they could one day be president of the United States. The pack is the perfect accompaniment for the popular children’s book, “If I Were President”. 

U.S. Presidents Notebooking Pages

Looking for a fun and comprehensive way to research the U.S. presidents/ Our U.S. President’s Notebooking Pages Printable Pack is just the thing! With a full page dedicated to each president, there’s plenty of space to write about their lives, their presidency, and any other exciting info your child wants to remember. 

US Presidents Drawing & Writing Prompts Pack

Our U.S. Presidents Drawing & Writing Prompts for elementary students provides kids with an interactive way to study key presidents. Use it as a standalone activity or as part of a unit study for President’s Day. The 75-page pack includes writing and drawing prompts for the following presidents:

• John Adams
• Dwight D Eisenhower
• Thomas Jefferson
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ronald Reagan
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Harry Truman
• George Washington
• Woodrow Wilson

Add Art to Learning About American Presidents for Kids

These President’s Day art projects are perfect to add to your homeschool! Draw along with Nana at YOU ARE AN ARTiST and if you join the membership, you will also get the companion curriculum that includes presidential biographies, overviews, and fast facts! Kids love learning with these engaging and hands-on lessons. Grab a FREE art lesson here and draw Abraham Lincoln’s hat! Adding art to studying American Presidents for kids will be a memorable experience your children will want to do again and again.

21 Fun President’s Day Activities and Crafts by Tip Junkie

This article contains 21 fun hands-on president’s activities for kids – including George Washington’s wig. Abraham Lincoln’s cabin and tall hat, finger puppets, and more.

Presidential Trivia Games

Here at Homeschool Mastery Academy, we’re all about having fun while learning. So it should come as no surprise that we love the idea of a Presidential Trivia Game Night. Here are a few games we recommend:

Professor Noggin’s Presidents of the United States Trivia Card Game

This game, which supports 2-8 players, features 30 game cards that test your presidential knowledge — including trivia, true or false, and multiple-choice questions. With easy and hard levels (named Student and Scholar), it can be fun for various ages. 

Presidential IQ Trivia Card Game

This trivia card game features interesting facts and trivia about the U.S. presidents and is a great game for history buffs, politics lovers, and homeschoolers alike!

The Presidents Trivia Cards

This deck features 45 cards filled with trivia to help you get to know our Commanders in Chief, from George Washington to Donald Trump.

Presidents of the United States Flash Cards: 2022 Edition 

These flash cards feature beautiful portraits of the 46 presidents of the United States, from George Washington to Joe Biden, along with information about their life, election, and presidency. It even includes a visual of their signatures. 

US Presidents Pocket Flash Cards

This deck not only provides some great trivia about the first 45 presidents of the United States — it also includes info on the different U.S. Eras, the evolution of America’s two-party political system, and fun activity cards. 

Presidential Quiz Bowl

Give your kids a chance to show off their presidential knowledge by hosting a fun Presidential Quiz Bowl. Make a list of questions to ask your kids and award points for every correct answer. Questions can include trivia about the presidents themselves, but don’t feel like you have to limit it to that. You can also ask questions about the First Ladies, First Kids, and even First Pets! 

Mock Election Campaign

Give your kids a taste of what it’s like to run for president by holding a mock election campaign. Encourage kids to go all out! They can write and deliver campaign speeches, create campaign posters, have debates, and even deliver their inauguration speeches for when they win. 

Make Their Favorite Foods

You have to eat every day, so why not spend some meals or snack times trying some of the favorite foods of the presidents. Perhaps you’ll have hoecakes and honey for breakfast like George Washington, macaroni pie for lunch like Thomas Jefferson, fried chicken with rice for dinner like James Madison, and apple pie for dinner like James Madison. Or maybe you want to try more adventurous things like cottage cheese with ketchup (Ronald Reagan), veal curry (Calvin Coolidge), currant biscuits (Theodore Roosevelt), fig pudding (Benjamin Harrison), or grape pie (James Buchanan).

 

Read Books About American Presidents for Kids and Presidency

If I Were President by Catherine Stier

In this book, a multicultural cast of children get to imagine what it would be like if they were president. It does a great job of both educating kids about what the presidency entails and empowering them to believe that they can be president one day. 

If I Ran For President by Catherine Stier

The follow-up to Stier’s first book gives kids a glimpse into what it takes to run for president. It does a great job of explaining, in a very kid-accessible way, what an election is like and how it works. 

Weird But True Know-It-All: U.S. Presidents Paperback by Brianna DuMont

This book features nearly 200 pages of weird-but-true facts about the presidents that are sure to delight your whole family. 

Who Was? Series

This series of kid-friendly biographies features books covering the lives of multiple U.S. presidents, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon,  Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama. There are also books dedicated to First Ladies Abigail Adams,  Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama.

 

The Complete Book of US Presidents by Bill Yenne

This beautifully illustrated volume covers the histories and personal stories of the first 46 presidents of the United States, from Washington to Biden. 

 

The Smithsonian Book of Presidential Trivia

This 240-page book features trivia questions and answers about the first 46 presidents of the United States. It also includes photographs and artifacts from the world renowned Smithsonian Collections. 

 

The Everything Kids’ Presidents Book: Puzzles, Games and Trivia – for Hours of Presidential Fun by Brian Thornton

This book, which is geared toward elementary-age kids, is filled with fun facts, trivia, and 30 puzzles.

Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents by David Stabler

Before they were presidents, they were kids. This comical and informative book tells relatable stories about the presidents’ lives when they were kids – complete with engaging, full-color illustrations. Kids get to see that the presidents dealt with some of the same issues they have — including sibling rivalry, clumsiness, bullies, and a love of pranks. 

The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents 2020 Edition: Fascinating Facts About Each and Every President, Including an American History Timeline by Marc Frey and Todd Davis

This book features a detailed timeline (complete with photographs and illustrations) that walk you through the course of U.S. history by way of the first 46 presidents. You learn about each president’s time in office as well as the political issues they faced.

Presidential Dogs American Presidents & Their Best Friends Coloring Book by Nikki August

This fun book introduces kids to the First Dogs of the U.S. Presidents. It includes 25 full coloring pages and 25 quick facts about each president and their canine companions.

National Geographic Readers Series

This series includes Level 2 biographies, timelines, and fun facts about multiple notable presidents, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Barack Obama.

The Story Of Biography Series

This kid-friendly biography series invites you to learn about the lives of multiple historical figures, including Presidents Geroge Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and more!

1,000 Facts About the White House Hardcover by Sarah Flynn 

This book gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the most well-known residence in America — the home of the presidents and their families. Learn about its history, what it’s like to live and work there, the quirky rules you have to follow, how the Secret Service keeps it safe, how the First Kids have fun there, and so much more. 

 

 

Watch Movies, TV Shows, and Documentaries About American Presidents for Kids

These movies are a mix of fictional and nonfictional. Please refer to Common Sense Media for ratings to decide if they’re age-appropriate for your children. 

First Kid

This fun comedy features Sinbad, who plays a Secret Service agent assigned to guard and protect the rather mischievous First Child of the president. 

Night at the Museum

A newly hired night watchman (played by Ben Stoller) at the Museum of Natural History quickly learns that the exhibits come to life at night. With the help of President Teddy Roosevelt (played by the inimitable Robin WIlliams, he must protect the museum.

Newsies

In this musical, where a group of young newspaper boys stand up to industry giants, one boy constantly claims to have met Theodore Roosevelt. There’s even one fun part where he actually gets help from the president!

National Treasure

Nicholas Cage stars in this movie as a treasure hunter who steals the Declaration of Independence in order to protect an even bigger national treasure. Though it doesn’t feature any presidents directly, it does reference some several times. 

My Date with the President’s Daughter

This 90’s Disney Channel Original movie gives kids a comical peek into what it’s like to be the president’s child — or date one. 

First Daughter

In this movie, Katie Holmes plays First Daughter to Michael Keaton’s president — and just wants to have a normal college life. 

Chasing Liberty

Here’s another movie (starring Mandy Moore) that shows what it may be like to be a president’s child who just wants to lead a normal life.

The Crossing

This 1999 film stars Jeff Daniels as George Washington and chronicles his decision to cross the Delaware River. 

Young Mr. Lincoln

This 1939 classic starring Henry Fonda gives us a glimpse into Honest Abe’s life. There are some instances of bullying, drinking, and violence that can be used as a way to open dialogue for older kids. 

1776

Have kids who love Hamilton? This comical musical explores the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Max 2: White House Hero

This movie is perfect for lovers of all things furry. Watch as the president’s son and his Secret Service canine get into adventures. 

Kid President

This young, inspiring, and positive YouTube star provides pep talks, substance, and also spotlights young changemakers. 

 

Visit Historic Presidential Sites and Take Virtual Tours

Does your family love a good field trip? Here are some places you can visit (either in person or virtually) that are closely tied to presidents of the United States: 

The White House

Visit the most famous address in American history – The White House where the presidents and First Families live and work. While public tours are (at the time this article was written in February 2022) are no longer available, it’s still a sight to see from the outside. 

Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home – Augusta, Georgia

Go on a guided tour of the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, where you’ll learn about his life during the Civil War and Reconstruction. 

Roosevelt’s Little White House – Warm Springs, Georgia

Visit the small cottage where Franklin D. Roosevelt retreated during his struggles with his polio diagnosis. He not only came there to relax in the therapeutic waters, but to fulfill his duties as president by developing New Deal programs before dying there in 1945. 

President’s Park (White House) – Washington, D.C. 

Explore President’s Park — an 82-acre park surrounding the White House that is also home to many historically significant statues, memorials, and structures. 

George Washington’s Birthplace National Monument – Colonial Beach, Virginia

This is your chance to visit the ancestral home of the Washington family, where George Washington was born. The property includes a visitor center, burial ground, Colonial Revival farm, multiple historic structures, and even picnic grounds.

Mount Rushmore National Monument – Penning County, South Dakota

This world-famous monument features the figures of four presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) carved into the side of a mountain. 

Washington Monument – Washington, D.C. 

Located in the National Mall, this 555-foot marble obelisk was built to commemorate the first president. 

Adams National Historical Park – Quincy, Massachusetts

Though the historic homes are (at the time of this writing in February 2022) closed, you and your family are still able to walk the grounds of the birthplaces of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. You can also visit the United First Parish Church, which houses the Adams Family Crypt.

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site – Kinderhook, New York

Van Buren’s presidency was marked by political turmoil, the Civil War, and an economic crisis. Visit the 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park – Hodgenville, Kentucky

Visit the infamous cabin in Kentucky that represents the humble beginnings of Abraham Lincoln. Built from the donations of citizens, it is also the very first memorial dedicated to Lincoln. Visit the home that often served as an escape for the man known for spearheading the creation of America’s dual party system. 

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial – Lincoln City, Indiana

Visit the place where Abraham grew up — from childhood to early manhood. 

Lincoln Home National Historic Site – Springfield, Illinois

Visit the home where Lincoln spent 17 years living as a family man, lawyer, and politician. 

Lincoln Memorial – Washington, D.C. 

Visit the memorial where our 16th president is memorialized as a 19-foot tall statue. The memorial is composed of the statue, the memorial itself, and a 2,000 foot Reflecting Pool. In addition to honoring Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial also served as an important symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement, even providing the location where Martin Luther King Jr delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. 

Theodore Roosevelt Island – Arlington, Virginia

Known as an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. Theodore Roosevelt made many strides to conserve the beautiful nature of America. Visit Roosevelt Island, a living memorial to his legacy. 

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site – Hyde Park, New York

Visit the family home of the nation’s longest-serving president, which also houses our first national Presidential Library.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park – Johnson City, Texas

Visit the historical park that, arguably, gives the most encompassing picture of the life of any American president – from his ancestors to his burial on LBJ Ranch. 

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site – Plains, Georgia

Visit the Georgia town of Jimmy Carter – which not only served as his lifelong home, but shaped his beliefs and political policies. Self-guided tours are available throughout the national park.

President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site

Visit the birthplace of our 42nd president, William “Bill” Jefferson Clinton, where he learned the lessons that helped shape his views on social justice, race relations, and public service. 

 

We hope we have given you a wide variety of ideas to learn all about American Presidents for kids not just on President’s Day, but anytime!