Presidents Day Craft Ideas for Elementary School Classrooms
It is important to teach students about their presidents and the holidays that celebrate them. What better time than to celebrate this than Presidents Day? Of course, many elementary school students learn better by doing than by just listening to lectures, thus a craft is a great way to about the founding fathers.
Mount Rushmore craft
The children can learn about George Washington and the other presidents with a craft of Mount Rushmore. They can use clay to recreate it the best that they can. There are many different types of clay, and this is an inexpensive and fun craft that can work for all grade levels. If you want the craft to be easily recognizable, then another idea is to give the children pictures of the heads of the presidents so that they can make the general shape of the presidents out of clay but then glue on the heads so it is obvious what it is. This might be better for younger children who would have a more difficult time shaping anything that would resemble a face.
Make a presidential “bust”
The children can focus on the first president if they wish. There are many famous works of the busts of different presidents. They can use clay to construct one of these for themselves. They can paint them to make them look bronzed for an added touch.
Diorama of a scene of the president
The children can make a diorama of a scene of George Washington. They start with an empty shoebox. They can line the inside and outside with paper. They can then use clay pieces, paper cutouts or any other materials they want to make a three dimensional scene. It may be something from early in George Washington’s life, such as during the war. It may be as he was signing the Declaration of Independence or from anytime during his presidency. How complex this will be will depend upon the age of the child.
Recreation of art and frame
There are many famous works of art of the presidents. You can have the children reproduce one of these such as the famous unfinished portrait of Washington. They can make a frame for it with popsicle sticks and other art supplies. They can use crayons, markers, and colored pencils.
A craft can be a great way to teach students about Presidents’ Day and allow them to use their creativity as well. Try the above ideas with your classroom students.