Presidents' Day Classroom Resources
Brought to you by KET:
Presidents' Day
As you celebrate Presidents' Day with your students, please find resources below which will help enrich student knowledge and increase student engagement in the history and importance of those we celebrate on this day.
Remember, however, that this is just a small sampling of resources on the topic that are available through KET, and there is much more to discover in KET Encyclomedia.
If you need help accessing these resources or setting up an account in Discovery please contact your KET Education Consultant.
Lincoln Interactive Resources
Lincoln Interactive Resources. Are you ready to take the Abe Across Kentucky challenge? Want to know more about Kentucky’s most famous son, Abraham Lincoln, and his life and influence? Need Lincoln resources and lesson plans for your classroom? KET offers a wide array of programs, educational materials and online resources, including an interactive quiz, interactive timeline, video segments from "Lincoln: I, too, am a Kentuckian," lesson plans, activity ideas, and more.
KET.
Grades K-12.
"Abe Across Kentucky" Challenge
"Abe Across Kentucky" Challenge. Test your knowledge of Lincoln-related sites in Kentucky with this engaging and informative interactive from KET. Watch Lincoln's top hat grow with each correct answer and hear the famous Gettysburg Address read aloud.
KET.
Grades K-12.
Interactive Timeline: Lincoln
Interactive Timeline: Lincoln. Find information about major events in Lincoln’s life and what else was going on in Kentucky, the nation, and the world with KET's Lincoln and His Times Timeline.
KET.
Grades K-12.
'Looking for Lincoln' Collection
Looking for Lincoln explores the life and legacy of the man widely considered one of our best and most enigmatic presidents. The PBS series, presented and written by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (African American Lives, Oprah’s Roots), addresses many of the controversies surrounding Lincoln – race, equality, religion, politics, and depression – by carefully interpreting evidence from those who knew him and those who study him today. Includes video and lesson plans.
PBS LearningMedia.
Grades K-12.
PBS: 'Looking for Lincoln'
PBS: 'Looking for Lincoln.' PBS explores the life and legacy of the man widely considered one of our best and most enigmatic presidents. The documentary, presented and written by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., addresses many of the controversies surrounding Lincoln – race, equality, religion, politics, and depression – by carefully interpreting evidence from those who knew him and those who study him today. Includes the two-hour documentary, lessons, interactives and other resources.
PBS.
Grades K-12+
Discovery Education Theme Page: Presidents' Day
Discovery Education Theme Page: President's Day. Prepare for Presidents' Day with a look at the people, responsibilities, and historical events the holiday honors. Includes video, audio, teacher guides, writing prompts, and more.
Discovery Education.
Grades K-12.
Holiday Facts and Fun: Presidents' Day
Holiday Facts and Fun: President's Day. This video explains why Washington is known as the "father of his country." It also tells the story of Lincoln's emancipation proclamation and explains how our 16th president prevented the United States from being destroyed. Taped in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Salem, Illinois, and Mount Vernon, Virginia, as well as many other locations, this program brings history to life for young viewers.
Discovery Education.
Grades K-5.
Presidents' Day: Washington and Lincoln
President's Day: Washington and Lincoln. With the help of a colonial Presidential crier children come to understand why we celebrate Presidents' Day and what makes it so special. They learn about George Washington and the important role he played in the formation of our country. Next, they learn about the life of Abraham Lincoln and his resolve to keep our country unified, making him one of our great civic leaders. Lastly, students are reminded to honor all of the presidents on this holiday.
Discovery Education.
Grades K-5.
So You Want to Be President?
So You Want to Be President? In the time-honored tradition of political commentary, author Judith St. George and Caldecott Medal winner/illustrator David Small celebrate the public and private lives of forty-two Presidents with humor and flair. Imparting much information and many laughs, this rip-roaring look at the men who have all wanted to be President deserves a place on every library and classroom shelf. Narrated with wit and wisdom by Stockard Channing. Based on the book by Judith St. George and illustrator David Small. Part of the Weston Woods Series.
Discovery Education.
Grades 3-5.
Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: the Story of the Gettysburg Address
Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: the Story of the Gettysburg Address. Jean Fritz's classic telling of the story of the Gettysburg Address comes alive in this iconographic program, illustrated by Charles Robinson. Abraham Lincoln had to run the country, win the war and look after his family. When he was asked to honor the soldiers who died in the great battle of Gettysburg, he made time to say a few words about them too. With sensitivity and wit, Rex Robbins narrates Jean Fritz's story about one of the most famous (and shortest) speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address. Part of the Weston Woods Series.
Discovery Education.
Grades 3-5.
Liberty Kids: Washington Takes Command
Liberty Kids: Washington Takes Command. In this animated series, several young people travel to Boston with the formidable General George Washington as he takes command of the colonies’ army.
Discovery Education.
Grades 3-8.
Discovering Alexander Hamilton
Discovering Alexander Hamilton. In this lesson, students explore the question “Who was Alexander Hamilton?” In the Introductory Activity, students look at US paper currency and identify which of the featured individuals served as President of the United States. In the Learning Activity, students explore video segments from the PBS program Rediscovering Alexander Hamilton to learn about Hamilton’s contributions to the United States and his role during George Washington’s presidency. In the Culminating Activity, students write an article, poem, song, speech or story about Alexander Hamilton.
PBS LearningMedia.
Grades 4-6.
Abraham Lincoln: A Good Man? or A Good Man!
Abraham Lincoln: A Good Man? or A Good Man! This lesson uses video from American Masters: Bill T. Jones: A Good Man to help students identify and understand the controversies surrounding the ideas, attitudes and actions of Abraham Lincoln. The documentary chronicles the intense creative journey of Bill T. Jones as he works to prepare a performance piece in honor of Lincoln’s 200th birthday. Students take their cue to investigate Lincoln by watching a segment from the documentary in which Jones poses the question “Was Lincoln a good man, question mark or a good man, exclamation!” Students begin by using quotes by Lincoln within the video to spur a discussion on whether or not Lincoln was “a good man.” In the learning activity, students consult primary sources to further their investigations into the life of Lincoln and, as a culminating activity, write a one page argument essay taking a position on Jones’ question.
PBS LearningMedia
Grades 9-12.
Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
Abraham Lincoln's Presidency. In this clip from Genealogy Roadshow, view a brief introduction to the key political issues facing President Abraham Lincoln during his first and second terms, including Southern secession and the Civil War, and his assassination.
PBS LearningMedia.
Grades 9-12+
Shmoop Learning Guide: George Washington
Shmoop Learning Guide: George Washington. George Washington--What George Washington did and why you should care. In a nutshell, Washington guided the nation safely through its most vulnerable years, but established the precedents that still shape the presidency today.
Discovery Education.
Grades 9-12.