Presidents Day is truly only one day out of the month of February, and most of us have the day off. Does that mean we don’t teach about presidents? Read on to find out about Presidents Day Reading Passages and more.
Thank you, Vanessa, for inviting me to be a guest author on your website. I’m Rachel from Fifth is My Jam. Be sure to check out Vanessa’s post, Simple Writing Strategies for Writing.
You might also like other posts for teaching writing, such as How To Use Your Favorite Winter Book To Research and Write an Informative Paper In 3 Easy Steps and Stress-Free Organization for Teachers Who Need More Time.
Presidents Day
Usually, this day is celebrated on the third Monday in February. However, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln both had birthdays during this month, too.
It feels natural to celebrate presidents for the whole month. Even if you are or are not in school on Presidents Day, you can still take time to teach about presidents from United States history.
The cool part is that you can teach about presidents year-round (not just in February)!
Why Start With George Washington?
Why not start with George Washington? He was the first president of the United States of America.
He has a state named after him, the capital of the country named after him, a coin with his profile, and more. Many of your students may ask you why he is important for the history of the United States, and you may wind up asking your students what is the name of the first president of the United States of America.
Reading, Writing, Vocab, and Assessment
Reading comprehension is a foundational skill for many elementary students, especially critical once these students reach the upper elementary grades. When students read and relay what they have read, they get a great idea of what they comprehend.
One of the best things about these Presidents Day Reading Passages is they offer students the opportunity to read about a historical figure and tell you what they have learned about him.
Along with reading, students are offered the opportunity to write about this figure. If they can highlight or underline important information obtained on George Washington, they are ready to write about him next.
When a student reads about something specific, buzzwords related often stick out. These reading passages offer up to ten keywords that are related to George Washington.
This will further not only reading comprehension but also writing!
Lastly, with this reading passage on George Washington, students are able to follow up on everything they have learned with a short comprehension test.
The test offers both reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
How About More?
Why stop with George Washington? How about the first five presidents of the United States? I have the perfect resource for you.
Each of the first five presidents of the United States is featured here in a set that includes reading passages, writing templates, and differentiated vocabulary and assessments. There are digital versions included, too.
Need more Presidents Day ideas for your classroom?
5 Books to Discuss Presidents Day In and Out of the Classroom
Presidents Day Resources Your Students Will Absolutely Love
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