Celebrating Presidents’ Day in Your Classroom

Posted by Frog Publications on 9th Feb 2026

Inspiring young leaders as we approach America’s 250th birthday

Presidents’ Day is a wonderful opportunity to bring history to life for your students. In elementary classrooms, this holiday is less about memorizing names and dates and more about helping children understand big ideas like leadership, responsibility, service, and civic pride.

At the federal level, the holiday is officially known as Washington’s Birthday and is observed on the third Monday in February. Over time, it has grown into a broader celebration of American presidents and the role leadership plays in our nation’s story (U.S. Office of Personnel Management, https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/pay-and-leave-faq/leave-policy/what-is-the-official-name-for-the-holiday-on-the-third-monday-in-february/)

As you celebrate Presidents’ Day with your class, you’re also stepping into a special season of learning. In 2026, the United States will mark its 250th anniversary—a milestone known as the Semiquincentennial—celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 (America250, https://america250.org/) This makes Presidents’ Day the perfect time to begin connecting past leadership to the future your students are growing into.

Why Presidents’ Day matters for your students

Presidents’ Day gives you a meaningful way to teach history through real people and real stories. Instead of abstract timelines, your students get to explore perseverance, teamwork, bravery, and service—qualities they can recognize in themselves and practice every day.

According to the Library of Congress, George Washington served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797, setting many of the traditions and expectations for the office (https://guides.loc.gov/george-washington) When you share Washington’s story, you’re also teaching your students that leadership is about responsibility, not power.

Another important figure your students will likely recognize is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, whose birthday falls on February 12. Lincoln is best known for leading the country during the Civil War and for his role in ending slavery in the United States. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that enslaved people in states in rebellion against the Union were free. This important step helped pave the way for the 13th Amendment, which officially abolished slavery in the United States in 1865 (National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/emancipation-proclamation)

When you teach Lincoln, you’re not just teaching a historical figure—you’re opening the door to conversations about freedom, fairness, unity, and what it means to stand up for what is right.

For your students, these stories all come back to one big question:
What does a good leader look like?

A perfect classroom tie-in: America’s 250th Anniversary

The upcoming America250 celebration gives you a powerful long-term framework for social studies instruction. In 2026, the United States will mark 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, one of the most important documents in American history (National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/declaration-of-independence)

You can even share this fun fact with your class: while the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, most of the delegates actually signed it later, beginning on August 2, 1776.

This milestone opens the door to great classroom discussions:

How did America begin?
Why do we celebrate independence?
How can we contribute to our country today?

A simple way to frame it for your students is:
“America is turning 250, and we’re learning about the leaders and ideas that helped build our nation.”

Take learning beyond your classroom: America250 Field Trips

One of the most exciting resources available to teachers right now is the America250 Field Trip program. This national initiative highlights museums, historical landmarks, and educational experiences across all 50 states that connect students directly to American history. There's even a contest where your students can enter to win!

Through the America250 Field Trip program, you can:

Find historic sites and museums in your state
Discover virtual field trips for your classroom
Explore hands-on civic learning experiences
Connect lessons to real-world locations

Whether you’re planning an in-person trip or a virtual experience, this resource makes it easy to bring history to life.

You can explore available opportunities here:
https://america250.org/fieldtrip/

This is a fantastic Presidents’ Day extension—especially if you want your students to see where history actually happened.

Core values you can highlight with your students

Presidents’ Day is also a natural fit for character education. As you teach about American leaders, you can reinforce values your students are already learning in school:

Responsibility – doing what is right, even when it is hard
Service – helping others and contributing to the community
Perseverance – not giving up when facing challenges
Integrity – being honest and fair
Respect – listening and valuing others

These traits align beautifully with social-emotional learning and classroom culture.

Easy Presidents’ Day activities for your classroom

1. Play Know the USA Super Learning Game (Grades 2–5)

A fun way to connect Presidents’ Day to real learning is by helping students strengthen their understanding of the United States itself. The Know the USA Super Learning Game gives students hands-on practice with geography, state recognition, leaders throughout our history, and key facts while keeping them engaged and working together.

This works especially well for:

learning centers
small group rotations
review days
early finishers

It’s an easy, low-prep way to reinforce social studies skills while keeping students actively involved in learning about the country they’re studying.

2. Leadership Anchor Chart (K–5)

Create a class chart titled “Leadership Looks Like…”
Have your students brainstorm words and phrases such as:

helping others
being kind
following rules
listening
trying your best

Then ask them to share examples of how they show leadership at school or at home.

Extension:
Have students complete the sentence:
“I can be a leader by __________.”

3. Primary Source Exploration: The Declaration (Grades 2–5)

Choose one short, simplified excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. Read it together and discuss:

What words stand out?
What does “independence” mean?
Why was this document important?

You can find the full document and teacher-friendly resources here:
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/declaration-of-independence

4. Two Presidents Mini Research (Grades 3–5)

Have students choose two presidents (Washington and Lincoln work great) and complete a one-page mini profile:

Name
Birthplace
Years as president
One challenge they faced
One leadership quality

Student-friendly information is available through the Library of Congress:
https://guides.loc.gov/george-washington

5. “Road to 250” Timeline (Grades 1–5)

Create a simple timeline together:

1776 – Declaration of Independence adopted
1789 – George Washington inaugurated
2026 – America turns 250

This visual helps students see how history connects across generations.

6. My Leadership Badge (Math + Art, K–5)

Have students design a personal Leadership Badge:

Stars = goals
Stripes = responsibilities
Pictures = ways they help others

This is a fun way to integrate math, art, and social-emotional learning.

7. Read-Aloud + Reflection

After reading a patriotic picture book or biography:

K–1: draw and label a leadership trait
2–3: write “I learned…” and “I wonder…”
4–5: write a paragraph: “Leadership means…”

8. School-Wide Display: American Ideals

Create a hallway display titled:
“We Can Practice American Ideals By…”

Each class contributes student responses such as:

helping our classmates
being respectful
taking responsibility
caring for our school

Add a banner:
“Countdown to America’s 250th Birthday!”

Bringing it back to your students

One of the most powerful lessons of Presidents’ Day is helping your students realize that leadership isn’t limited to famous figures. It’s something they practice every day—by making good choices, helping others, and being active members of their school and community.

George Washington set an early example by stepping down after two terms, showing that leadership includes knowing when to pass responsibility to others (Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/george-washington-s-farewell-address/)

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the students sitting in your classroom today will shape the next chapter of our nation’s story. Presidents’ Day gives you a meaningful moment to inspire them—to help them see that history is not just something that happened, but something they are part of.

At Frog Publications, we believe in supporting you with engaging, meaningful learning experiences that build strong academic skills and strong character. Presidents’ Day isn’t just about looking back—it’s about helping your students grow into confident, thoughtful, and responsible citizens.