Celebrate President's Day 2012!

Editor's Note: Megan Hoke is a graduate student in education attending Towson University. She has taught early childhood education as an assistant teacher and currently resides in Eldersburg. 

February 20 is Presidents Day, officially known as George Washington’s birthday, and it is observed on the third Monday in February. Take this opportunity to learn about the presidents and to celebrate our great country with your children.

To find pictures of all of our presidents click here. While there are lengthy descriptions of each, I find it fascinating just to look at all of the pictures in the slideshow. Scholastic’s websiteprovides a timeline of all of the leaders with simple but informative facts about each.

Did you know that on George Washington’s wedding day, Martha gave him a miniature portrait of herself? He wore it on a chain around his neck until his death 40 years later.

What would you do if you were president? Have your child write or dictate what he or she would do as president. Let them illustrate their writing. Your child can also write a letter to the President of the United States. Click here for contact information. You can address your letter to:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

One of the famous stories about George Washington involves a cherry tree. While there is some debate on whether this actually occurred, the popular story goes like this: When Washington was six years old, he was given a hatchet. One day, he came across a young English cherry tree while walking through his family's garden. His father was very proud of the tree.

Young George used his hatchet on the tree, and cut away it’s bark so that it died. His father was very upset, and demanded to know who was responsible. Young George Washington told his father “I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.”

His father responded, “My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees!” This story provides the opportunity to discuss the importance of telling the truth with your child.

To go with this story, your little one can create their own cherry tree using watered down black paint and a straw to make the branches, and pink tissue paper for the blossoms. Kids will have fun blowing through the straw to make the paint move across the paper! Find directions and photoshere.

Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue!

Use Presidents' Day to not only recognize the presidents, but to celebrate our amazing country.Create fireworks using paper plates, paint and marbles! Cupcake liners make awesome fireworks, too. Use coffee filters to create firework flowers! Red and blue watercolor paint are used. Before they dry, add silver glitter!

Put shaving on a hard surface. Add a few drops of red and blue food coloring. Have your child swirl around the color! Your child can write their letters, draw shapes, or just enjoy the sensory experience. Place a piece of construction paper on top of the shaving cream to “pick up” the design. Click here for photos and detailed instructions.

Use red and blue crayons to create coin rubbings. Cut white paper into fourths. This will make it easier to find the coins underneath. Lightly rub crayons on top of each coin. Tell your child the names of the coins as they use each one. This will help with coin identification. You can also name the presidents on each coin. For older children who are practicing counting money, write “$1.00” for example on one of the paper squares. They will then find the coins that equal one dollar , and make the appropriate crayon rubbings on the paper.

Make red, white and blue popsicles using cranberry juice, lemonade and a blue sports drink to make the colors. I made these with the children when I was a nanny one summer and they turned out great! Find the recipe here.

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Themed Books to Read With Your Child

• Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell
• Celebrating President’s Day: What Is a President? By Kimberly Jordano
• If I Were the President by Thomas Kingsley Troupe
• A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler
• What Presidents Are Made Of by Hanoch Piven