President’s Day Unit Rationale

This unit is entitled “President’s Day” and it is targeted for first grade. This
unit will incorporate different activities to learn about different presidents, the role
of the president, and the voting process.

Students will learn about the lives of George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln and what qualities they had that made America make a holiday specifically
for them. They will also learn the reason we celebrate President’s Day in February is
because both of their birthdays were in that month.

Students will learn the role the president has such as making laws, giving
speeches, and meeting with other leaders in different countries. They will also learn
the characteristics the president must have like trustworthy, kind, and hardworking.

Students will lastly learn about the voting process. They will learn that you
have to learn about each candidate, pick which one they think would do the best job,
and then go vote for them. The students will practice what they learned by voting
for a class president for the day based on who has president-like characteristics we
learned about the day before.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards, 8.3.1.A

(Identify Americans who played a significant role in American history) and
(Standard - 5.3.1.J Describe situations where voting eases conflict) and (Standard -
5.4.1.E Explain how a classroom community reaches compromise) and (Standard -
5.1.1.D Explain the importance of written rules and laws) and (Standard - 5.2.1.A
Identify and explain the importance of responsibilities at school and at home) the students
will learn that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln played a significant role in
American history, how a community reaches compromise by voting and how it eases
conflict, and the importance of rules and responsibilities.

When the unit is complete the students will be able to recall facts about
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, describe what the presidents role is and
what characteristics make a good president, and describe the voting process.