Presidents' Day 2024 Teaching Resources

Celebrate Presidents' Day 2024 with printables crafts, activities for kids, and more teaching resources designed for teachers by teachers.

Each resource in this collection of American government and history resources has undergone a rigorous review by a member of our expert teacher team to ensure it's ready to be used in the classroom. With a variety of editable curriculum-aligned resources, plus fun holiday crafts, there's something for every teacher!

Is this your first year teaching about Presidents' Day? Or maybe you're just looking for some fresh angles on the topic? Read on for a primer on this American holiday, including when Presidents' Day will fall on the school calendar in 2024!

What Is Presidents' Day? A Kid-Friendly Definition

If you're teaching your students all about Presidents' Day, it helps to have a definition handy to explain what it is. Here's one from our teacher team:

Presidents' Day is an American holiday that we celebrate every year to honor and remember all the past presidents of our country.

When Is Presidents' Day in 2024?

Presidents' Day is officially celebrated on the third Monday in February every year — which means it will be celebrated on February 19, 2024.

The holiday used to pop up on different days of the week up until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.

Presidents' Day is one that most teachers and students will spend outside of school, but that doesn't mean you have to skip out on celebrating the presidents. Plan your activities for the week leading up to the holiday or when you return to school!

Is Presidents' Day a Federal Holiday?

There's an easy yes to this question!

Presidents' Day is a federal holiday that was originally established to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States, who was born on February 22.

Text reads Presidents’ Day was originally established to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States, who was born on February 22. beside an illustration of President George Washington

Over time, the holiday has come to be seen as a way to honor all past presidents of the United States.

What Do You Teach Kids About Presidents' Day?

Trying to wrap up your February lesson plans but scratching your head? There are many things that you can teach kids about Presidents' Day. Here are a few ideas of what to teach from our teacher team to save you some much-need time:
  1. The history of Presidents' Day and how it came to be a holiday.
  2. The role of the president of the United States, including the duties and responsibilities of the office.
  3. The history of the presidency, including the lives and accomplishments of some of the most important Presidents in American history.
  4. The importance of citizenship and civic engagement, and how young people can get involved in their communities and make a difference in the world.
  5. The values and ideals that have shaped the United States, such as democracy, liberty, and justice.

If I were president activity on a blue background with a marker and other classroom supplies beside it

5 Fun Presidents' Day Facts for Kids

Trying to make sure your students understand the importance of Presidents' Day — beyond the fact that they get to sleep in? Here are some fun Presidents' Day facts for kids!

  1. Presidents' Day has been honored in some form since the 1800s, when it was first deemed a holiday to honor the birthday of President George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732. President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the official law marking Washington's birthday as a federal holiday in 1879.
  2. When the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February, the celebration of Washington’s birthday was officially combined with a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln whose birthday was on February 12.
  3. Presidents’ Day is not the official name of the holiday. Although it's typically called that, and you'll see it marked as such on most calendars, technically the US government never officially changed the name from "Washington's Birthday."
  4. The third Monday in February is alo technically known as “Washington’s Birthday” or “George Washington Day" in the states of Virginia, Illinois, Iowa and New York.
  5. We use an apostrophe after the word "Presidents" in Presidents' Day because it is a day we celebrate every president!
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24 of 60 teaching resources for those 'aha' moments