by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: March 30, 2008   Last Updated: April 04, 2011

History is important and elementary students would do well to learn about their country, its present and past presidents, how their country started, and who were instrumental in forming the first government.  Election years would be the ideal time to incorporate these into classrooms. Depending on the grade, whether kindergarten through the sixth, there is enough variety to interest everyone. In preschool they could learn that every organization, schools, Parents and Teachers Association and even countries have presidents. Perhaps they could then vote on a president for their class.

Why is this a good history projects for children? For one thing, there is always a lot of talk going around, on T.V., and in schools, among other family members, about presidents. It is something they can relate to.

Of course, learning about presidents is a natural part of our school system but it one that ways in teaching about them that is forever new. In the fourth, fifth and sixth grades there are endless ways of starting new projects about the presidents. Each student's project could have a new slant:

 How many President started libraries? A favorite project of presidents after they leave office is opening up a new library for a particular place, usually in or near their home town. Several students may want to form groups and delve into the history of these. They not only will be able to research them on-line but can ask for and get direct information from these places. Maybe a signed picture or a copy of a signed picture could be an added wall decoration. Or have each student select their own particular type of history project based on the presidents. A few examples are below:

What states have had more presidents? This will be all the more interesting to those students from the states with the most presidents. What states still lack past presidents? How many of these presidents went back home after their term of president was over? If not, such as the Clinton's, where did they go? Why? What was the attraction of the new state former presidents chose as their new home?

Nicknames for presidents: This will add a lighter touch to this history lesson. Most presidents and most students have nick names by which others, playfully or in jest, call them. Who was known as old 'Rough and Ready'? Why was this nickname chosen? By what other name is Abraham Lincoln known? What nickname was given to Andrew Jackson? Why was this given? If they are stumped, give them a one word clue

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