Thread: Presidents' Day

Thanks wig! I'm going to link a post from the other day that also has some president day links.

[url]http://www.teacherfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2406[/url]

Caution: Most of these activities are way down on the grade level chart. Fifth graders have no business making log cabins, not even as homework. What exactly is learned by making a stove pipe hat?

Lizard,

wig said she was looking for her 5th and ran across these sites that were more suited for early childhood.

She did not say she was going to use them with 5th graders.

Thanks, Wag.

Originally Posted by wag

I was looking up some activities to do with my fifth graders for President's Day and I ran accross these sites more suitable for EC and elementary.

Lizard: Please reread what I wrote. MORE suitable for.

Since I have been teaching for 33 years, AND have my MS Social Studies endorsement, I am well aware that fifth graders have no business making log cabins in place of more appropriate objectives. Actually, I was probably aware of that my first year. However, I do have a box of Lincoln logs which they play with during rainy day recesses and classes in the past have made one based on pictures from "Lincoln: A Photobiography."

As far as making a stove pipe hat. Well, when I was teaching first grade, we made the hat while learning about Abraham Lincoln. We then glued important facts to the hat and they took it home to talk to their parents about it. Visuals are a necessary part of teaching little ones (and big ones for all that.)

wag, I wasn't aiming my post at you but rather readers in general. A lot of these activities ARE assigned in the upper elementary grade levels, unfortunately.

However I did state that they were for the lower grades.

I really don't mind constructive criticism or even some questions asking for clarification, but I did feel that you were attacking me as a professional. I'm glad that was not your intent. Thank you for clarifying your remarks.

I often miscommunicate, so sorry if I offended.

I'm interested in what other 5th grade teachers come up with; I'm in a severe time crunch the next two weeks. I'll be out of state working with another school for a couple of days during this period. That means sub plans, and compacting things I need to do with them myself into an even shorter week. Whatever I might do for president's day, other than note that we will be off 2 Mondays (1 for Lincoln, one for George/"President's"), has to be short, sweet, and easy. I'll check out the links and see what I find.