PRESIDENTS’ DAY Most Americans observe Presidents’ Day. The actual name of Presidents’ Day is Washington’s Birthday. It was meant to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. Many people celebrate all U.S. presidents on this day though. ORIGIN George Washington was a brave leader during America’s fight for freedom and as the first leader of the United States of America. Americans wanted to honor him so they started celebrating his birthday, February 22. In 1879, Washington’s Birthday became a federal holiday. It was the first American holiday to honor a person. In 1971, the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February. This falls near another U.S. president’s birthday, Abraham Lincoln. His birthday is February 12. Many states renamed the holiday Presidents’ Day. TRADITIONS ©Teaching to the Middle People celebrate the lives of American presidents on Presidents’ Day. Some businesses close for the holiday. Many stores offer huge sales. Children often learn about past presidents in school around Presidents’ Day. Some cities hold historical reenactments by acting out events that occurred long ago. Parades are held in some American cities to honor past presidents. Many families visit famous historic sites like the presidents’ homes. There are many memorials that have been built in honor of the presidents. People take the time to honor American leaders while visiting monuments. Name ____________________________________________ PRESIDENTS’ DAY IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description. February Monday Washington Lincoln federal reenactment president memorial 1. Month when Presidents’ Day is celebrated 2. Presidents’ Day honors this first president 3. Washington’s Birthday is this type of holiday 4. U.S. president whose birthday is on February 12 5. Day of the week when Presidents’ Day occurs 6. Dressing up and acting out historic events 7. Built in honor of someone or something 8. Washington was the first of the United States MULTIPLE CHOICE: 9. A. B. C. 10. A. B. C. Choose the best answer. What was the author’s purpose in writing this passage? To persuade the reader to learn more about the presidents. To entertain the reader with an interesting story about Presidents’ Day. To inform the reader about the history and traditions of Presidents’ Day. When is Presidents’ Day mostly celebrated today? February 12th February 22th The third Monday in February ©Teaching to the Middle PRESIDENTS’ DAY Most Americans observe Presidents’ Day. The actual name of Presidents’ Day is Washington’s Birthday. It was meant to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. Many people celebrate all U.S. presidents on this day though. ORIGIN George Washington was a brave leader during America’s fight for freedom and as the first leader of the United States of America. Americans wanted to honor him so they started celebrating his birthday, February 22. In 1879, Washington’s Birthday became a federal holiday. It was the first American holiday to honor a person. In 1971, the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February. This falls near another U.S. president’s birthday, Abraham Lincoln. His birthday is February 12. Many states renamed the holiday Presidents’ Day. TRADITIONS ©Teaching to the Middle People celebrate the lives of American presidents on Presidents’ Day. Some businesses close for the holiday. Many stores offer huge sales. Children often learn about past presidents in school around Presidents’ Day. Some cities hold historical reenactments by acting out events that occurred long ago. Parades are held in some American cities to honor past presidents. Many families visit famous historic sites like the presidents’ homes. There are many memorials that have been built in honor of the presidents. People take the time to honor American leaders while visiting monuments. Name ____________________________________________ PRESIDENTS’ DAY IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description. February Monday Washington Lincoln federal reenactment president memorial 1. Month when Presidents’ Day is celebrated 2. Presidents’ Day honors this first president 3. Washington’s Birthday is this type of holiday 4. U.S. president whose birthday is on February 12 5. Day of the week when Presidents’ Day occurs 6. Dressing up and acting out historic events 7. Built in honor of someone or something 8. Washington was the first of the United States MULTIPLE CHOICE: 9. A. B. C. 10. A. B. C. Choose the best answer. What was the author’s purpose in writing this passage? To persuade the reader to learn more about the presidents. To entertain the reader with an interesting story about Presidents’ Day. To inform the reader about the history and traditions of Presidents’ Day. When is Presidents’ Day mostly celebrated today? February 12th February 22th The third Monday in February ©Teaching to the Middle Name ___KEY_________________________________________ PRESIDENTS’ DAY IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description. February Monday Washington Lincoln federal reenactment president memorial February 1. Month when Presidents’ Day is celebrated Washington 2. Presidents’ Day honors this first president federal 3. Washington’s Birthday is this type of holiday Lincoln 4. U.S. president whose birthday is on February 12 Monday 5. Day of the week when Presidents’ Day occurs reenactment 6. Dressing up and acting out historic events memorial 7. Built in honor of someone or something president 8. Washington was the first of the United States MULTIPLE CHOICE: 9. A. B. C. 10. A. B. C. Choose the best answer. What was the author’s purpose in writing this passage? To persuade the reader to learn more about the presidents. To entertain the reader with an interesting story about Presidents’ Day. To inform the reader about the history and traditions of Presidents’ Day. When is Presidents’ Day mostly celebrated today? February 12th February 22th The third Monday in February ©Teaching to the Middle THANKS! ©Teaching to the Middle All rights reserved. Purchase of this unit entitles the purchaser the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for single classroom use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system, or commercial purposes is strictly forbidden without written permission from the publisher. www.Ducksters.com www.holidays-and-observances.com www.nationaltoday.com *If you don't already, Follow Me!