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Observing Presidents' Day in Your Homeschool

There are so many different holidays; some we celebrate, some we simply acknowledge, and some lend themselves to including in our homeschool.

Why Should We Incorporate Presidents’ Day in our Homeschool?

Presidents Day is a great one to incorporate into the lesson plans. It has the obvious tie-ins to history, but you can also include literature, music, art, and even food.

Incorporating Presidents Day activities into your day is a great way to make learning a little more interesting while covering some significant parts of our American history.

Observing Presidents' Day in Your Homeschool

What Exactly is Presidents’ Day?

Most people agree that we celebrate George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on Presidents’ Day. Other folks like to incorporate other presidents into the celebration. I had always believed that it was officially the celebration of both Washington and Lincoln.

However, a little research shows that on a federal level, the holiday is officially a celebration of George Washington. The holiday was initially established on his birthday but was moved to the third Monday of February when several other federal holidays were changed to always fall on a Monday.

There was a push to include Lincoln (whose birthday is also in February), but it did not have enough support and was dropped. Since then, it has become popular to celebrate both presidents and call it Presidents Day, but it is still officially Washington’s birthday.

How Do I Incorporate Presidents’ Day in my Homeschool?

 While there are many ways to incorporate Presidents’ day into our homeschools, our favorite is reading.

Good books are an easy way to encourage our children to learn about any topic, and they are readily available. You can read aloud during your morning time, assign a biography to your older students, or even have them on display for students to pick up and read as they have time.

Books for Presidents' Day

Having a display of books can entice children to learn more about a particular subject.

Picture Books for Presidents’ Day

I have divided the book list into picture books and chapter books for ease and convenience. However, please note that picture books are not just for younger children, and many of these would be great for various ages. 

A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln and A Picture Book of George Washington are older books that do a great job giving a short picture book style biography of the presidents. 

When Washington Crossed the Delaware is specifically about how General Washington led his troops across the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. This book has stunning illustrations. 

We the People: The Story of the Constitution focuses on the writing of the constitution but includes Washington’s role. It also has excellent illustrations. 

Everybody’s Revolution looks at various people that play a role in the revolution, including Washington. It also makes a point to discuss lesser-known people, including women and those of African American descent. 

George Washington’s Teeth is a rather comical story that tells how George Washington lost his teeth and had to use dentures. Throughout that story, it includes important historical facts and an excellent timeline that gives more information. This book would be great for a reluctant reader who needs to engage through comedy and rhyme.

Vinnie and Abraham is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the young woman who sculpted the statue of Abraham Lincoln that stands in the Capitol rotunda. It tells of how she met him and sculpted him before his death and then how she had to fight to get the commission because many people did not believe that a woman could create the sculpture.

The House That George Built is a cute story about the White House and George Washington’s role in having it built. The story has a sing-songy rhyming style that will keep young children engaged and provides pages with lots of historical information.

Chapter Books for Presidents’ Day

These chapter books would work well for a read-aloud to older children or as independent reading for upper elementary and middle-grade children. Our family has also enjoyed listening to the YWAM biographies on audiobook.

George Washington: True Patriot and Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom are biographies in the Heroes of History series by YWAM. They are excellent chapter books that are well suited for anyone from upper elementary to adults. These would be perfect as a family read-aloud or the basis of a unit study. 

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?  and Who Was George Washington?  are shorter biographies that are a part of the Who Was series. These books are suitable for elementary-aged students or a quicker family read-aloud. 

George Washington, Our First Leader is a good chapter book biography that includes some lovely black and white illustrations. 

In Their Own Words: Abraham Lincoln is a shorter chapter book that uses many of Lincoln’s own words to tell his story. It is a great book to use to teach children about first-person sources. 

Activity Books for Presidents’ Day

In addition to the picture books and chapter books included in the lists above, some families may want to incorporate some hands-on activities. 

 Abraham Lincoln for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities and George Washington for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities are great books to help with that. The books each contain 21 different activities to help your children learn more about each person and the times in which they lived. The books also include timelines and other resources to help you dig deeper. 

And don’t forget the Lincoln Logs!

The Birth of Lincoln Logs is a fun story to share with your children - and February is a PERFECT time to drag out your logs for free play!

Music Appreciation and Presidents Day

In the SQUILT LIVE! Plus curriculum we will be enjoying a special event to learn even more about Presidents Day.

Matthew Sabatella, of Ballad of America, will perform and teach our children about the songs that were popular during Washington and Lincoln’s time. Mr. Sabatella has a passion for American history and music, and his programs are always excellent!

Membership is always open, so become a SQUILT LIVE! Plus member to enjoy this event - and over 105 recorded lessons in the archives, along with two new live lesson each month!

Reading, creating, playing, and incorporating music are great ways to build relationships and learn about history.

I hope you find something I’ve suggested to focus on and enhance your study of Presidents Day in your homeschool!

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family. Some of her favorite parts of homeschooling are hymn studies, living history, and read alouds. She and her children also enjoy incorporating food into their studies as often as possible.

You might also like:

Children’s Literature for February

The Joys of Homeschooling Older Children

Treasures From the Recipe Box

One of the unforeseen benefits of choosing to homeschool is that it has allowed us to slow down our pace of life.

I’ve come to treasure so many of the “old-fashioned” ideas that have gotten lost in our fast-paced world. Homeschooling has given me more control of our schedule. It has allowed me to take the time to be at home, prepare a meal, and just be together. This surprising gift has become something I know I will look back on and cherish.

I was cooking a meal for my family a few nights ago and it hit me that there weren’t likely many individuals my age still using an old-fashioned recipe box. Honestly, I think I would be lost without it.

Mine stays above my stove and it has been well used. You can tell my family's favorites because the cards are stained and splattered. Many of the recipes are in the handwriting of my mom, grandmothers, mother-in-law, and friends. Some are on napkins, some on cardboard, some on beautiful floral printed cards.

There is a pretty high bar for a recipe to make it into the box.

I absolutely love reading recipes and browsing through Pinterest as much as anyone, but all of those recipes don’t necessarily become favorites or warrant a spot. Before they make the cut they have to pass the test of being both a joy to cook and to eat. It will then become a recipe that will be repeated. Many are also from meals I’ve enjoyed at others homes and knew I wanted to try to recreate.

It’s comforting to know that someone I loved took the time to share these recipes and there is a connection with the individual that wrote it and shared it that I can’t quite explain.

Reading their writing and preparing a familiar meal reminds me of other times we’ve eaten that food or spent time with that person and it’s such a gift.

There is something about holding a physical card that makes me slow down and enjoy the moment I’m in.

Much for the same reason I read physical books, I also enjoy using recipe cards. In a world full of screens and digital content I feel we can easily lose a connection to our past. I may not be able to articulate just why but it does something good for my heart and soul and I hope you will find the beauty in it that I do.

(I also hope that my children will continue this tradition!)

Here are a few of my family’s favorite recipes. I know you will enjoy them.

Old Time Spaghetti Sauce

This first one is for our homemade old-time spaghetti sauce. I know most people just pour out of a store-bought jar, but the little bit of time it takes to get this one simmering on the stove is well worth it in flavor. My grandmother, who just turned 90, has been making this one my whole life and got the recipe from a friend of hers years and years ago. It’s a go-to if I’m making dinner for a crowd or taking dinner to someone and everyone loves it!

Go ahead and print out this handy recipe card and add it to your own recipe box!

(If you don’t have one, keep reading!)

These next two recipes I want you to copy onto your own recipe cards and add them to your recipe box. If you don’t have a recipe box or cards, why not get them now and start this tradition in your own home?

German Chocolate Cookies

If I’m asked to bring a dessert at the last minute, everyone who knows me knows it will be German Chocolate cookies.

They are easy and always devoured, plus they are my kids’ favorites. I came across this recipe in college and have been making it ever since.

(This is also an easy one to make with your own kids - homeschool math for the win!)

Ingredients:

1 box German Chocolate cake mix (any brand)

1 stick butter (½ cup)

½ cup old fashioned oats

2 eggs

1 bag (10.5 oz) milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

Mix butter, eggs, and cake mix with a mixer.  Add in oats.  Then stir in chocolate chips and drop by tablespoon full onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees until just set.  You want them to still be sort of soft in the middle!  Enjoy!

Treasures from the Recipe Box

Homemade Vegetable Soup

The last recipe is for another childhood favorite and that’s my Grandma Gerry’s homemade vegetable soup.

That same 90-year-old grandma who taught me most of what I know about cooking has been serving this up with a cake of homemade cornbread my entire life and it always hits the spot on a cold night.

The measurements are a little hard to put into writing since some of it is just an “eyeball” amount as many things are with old recipes!

Ingredients:

2-3 baking potatoes

1 small onion, diced fine

1 (46oz.) can of tomato juice

1 (15oz.) can yellow sweet corn, undrained

1 (15oz.) can small green peas, undrained

1 (15oz.) pinto beans, undrained

1 cup elbow noodle pasta

1 stick (½ cup) butter

1 tbsp. Sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Peel and dice potatoes into small bite-sized pieces. Put potatoes and diced onion into a large stockpot. Cover the potatoes and onions with water and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer on low for about two hours.

Here’s to dinner - and here’s to everyone out there who is a bit old-fashioned like me!

Do you keep a recipe box? What are some of your favorite recipes inside?

Leave me a comment below and let me know!

This is post is from Homegrown Learners contributor, Allison. She is a wife and mother with a passion for reading. With a background in Early Childhood Education as well as experience working in Corporate America, the events of the past year exposed her to the rewards of teaching her own children at home.

She hopes to encourage anyone who has ever been anxious about taking this leap with her own personal successes and failures of her family's first year of homeschooling.