Even though you may be out of school on Presidents Day, that doesn’t mean your students should miss out on learning about it! I know my students are always intrigued to learn more about our past presidents, the job they do, and how to become president. The following President’s Day books and videos are the perfect way to engage the future presidents in your classroom!
President’s Day Books For Kids
1. President’s Day
by Anne Rockwell
This fun story gives students the perfect introduction to our Presidents’ history.
The students in Mrs. Madoff’s class are performing a play in which each student plays a different president. Rockwell does a wonderful job of giving short kid-friendly facts about each.
It’s the perfect book to pique the interest in our past and could be a great starting point for a research project or your own living museum!
2. If I Ran for President
by Catherine Stier
Classroom elections are always a fun hands-on way to bring the election process to life. If I Ran for President is an excellent choice in introducing what it may be like to actually run for president.
It’s super informative, yet easy to understand and I guarantee it will inspire your class to dream big!
3. Grace for President
by Kelly DiPucchio
Similar to the above story, Grace For President follows Grace as she runs for class president. She is motivated to show her classmates that a female can be president and works hard to beat the popular kid in class.
Not only does this book do a great job of inspiring girls to follow their dreams, but it also explains the Electoral College in an easy-to-understand manner!
4. Duck for President
by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Although not as informative as the other President’s Day books on this list, it’s still a fun one that I read every February.
Duck is tired of the jobs that come along with being a duck on the farm so he works his way up to becoming President.
I like to use it as a tool in discussing the qualities that a President needs (and what Duck may be lacking).
5. President’s Day
by David E. Mars
This is a must in your February reading collection as it’s the perfect informational text to introduce George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Through the use of real photographs and easy-to-understand text, it gives students a great overview of why President’s Day exists.
6. Our Country’s Presidents
by Ann Bausum
Although this isn’t a read aloud, it’s a great addition to your non-fiction library!
After reading the above stories out loud, I always have a handful of students who want to dive in even further. This encyclopedia allows them to do just that!
The book presents information on the first 45 presidents with the help of real photographs, timelines, maps, and more!
6. George Washington
by Lori H. Houran
Little Golden Books has a fabulous collection of biographies that are perfect for elementary students.
This one dives into George Washington’s life from childhood to his presidency.
I’m working on collecting the entire biography collection for my classroom as my students are always wanting to read the next!
President’s Day Videos For Kids
1. US Presidents Song For Kids
Each year, my students always love learning through songs! This is such a fun catchy tune to help students see the various presidents over time.
2. Presidents Day Facts for Kids
Homeschool Pop always does a great job of providing A LOT of information in a short amount of time.
Although this video is not as engaging as others on the list, it does have very valuable information inside.
It’s a great introduction to the history of President’s Day!
3. 60-Second Presidents (PBS)
PBS has put together an excellent series for Presidents Day. Each video is just over 60 seconds and is the perfect way to introduce students to each president throughout our history.
I like to show one or two each day during the month of February! Many of your students will want to grab the encyclopedia (mentioned above) to learn more about specific presidents!
4. President of the United States Job
After your students have learned about the history behind President’s Day and past presidents, it’s important to dive into the job of the President.
This quick 3-minute video discusses the requirements to becoming president and the jobs once they are president. It uses fun animations so it’ll keep your students engaged throughout!
5. Kid President Meets the President of the United States
If your class is a fan of the Kid President, they’ll love this video! (If not, you are missing out!)
This short video gives students a tour of the Oval Office while the Kid President asks former President Obama questions.
I hope you’ve found these President’s Day books and videos helpful! Be sure to save this post and share it with your teacher friends!
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