This week we did a great deal of social studies with books, printables and crafts, but today we did it a bit differently. Instead we played outside most of the day, taking turns as “leader” in so many different games, and play.

During our lesson about George Washington, we learned about him being on the dollar bill, and the quarter. On our art sheet where we colored money and cut it out, there were other coins present. That can be the lead in for this days lesson.

Get your dollar or quarter out and have on hand a penny, or a five dollar bill… Oh, and wear a tophat if you have one

Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12 in 1809. Things were different then. When Abe was a boy, he lived in a log cabin. A log cabin is a small house made out of logs cut from trees. His father cut down the trees and made the cabin.

There were no electric lights in the cabin. Young Abe read books by firelight and drew with charcoal on a shovel. Abe’s family was poor. Often he went barefoot because he didn’t have any shoes.

When Abraham Lincoln grew up, he studied hard and became a lawyer. Then he was elected to be a law-maker. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States.

Things to do:

• Log Cabin: Tell about how Abe was born in Kentucky in a log cabin.
• Abe Lincoln slider game: http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/presidents/tv_link.htm
• Mount Rushmore: Point out the two presidents that are familiar.

Yesterday, since we went over George Washington, and before we move on, lets elaborate on a President.
WRITING: http://www.primarygames.com/print_zone/stationery/presidents.htm

READING: After reading a simple story answer questions about George Washington as a child.

Make your own book - “Tommy for President“. After making and reading the book do this sequencing worksheet.

Yesterday, we learned about our US Flag, and since it was George Washington who requested the first flag be made, so who better to learn about today.

HISTORY: George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States of America. George Washington became known as “The Father of Our Country”. He is an important person in the history of the United States. Washington wore false teeth made from hippopotamus ivory.

STORY:

George Washington and The Cherry Tree

When George Washington was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet of which, like most little boys, he was extremely fond. He went about chopping everything that came his way.

One day, as he wandered about the garden amusing himself by hacking his mother’s pea- sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.

Some time after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. He came into the house in great anger, and demanded to know who the mischievous person was who had cut away the bark. Nobody could tell him anything about it.

Just then George, with his little hatchet, came into the room. “George,” said his father, “do you know who has killed my beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? I would not have taken five guineas for it!

“This was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself he cried: — “I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.”

The anger died out of his father’s face, and taking the boy tenderly in his arms, he said: — “My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! yes, though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of the purest gold!”

MATH: Count the Cherries - Addition and subtraction story problems; Construction Paper and Crayons: Fold the paper in half. First draw cherries, cherry pies, or cherry trees to illustrate the problem. Use bold crayon numerals and symbols. On the other half of the paper draw cherries, cherry pies, or cherry trees to illustrate the solution. Be sure to include the answer to the problem by making it big and bright.

MATH: Introduce quarters and the dollar bill to younger children. Teach what these are worth. Learn to count by 25 using quarters and hundreds using one dollar bills. How many quarters in a dollar?

MUSIC/HISTORY: Yankee Doodle Dandy - Learn the words to Yankee Doodle Dandy and sing it.
ART: George Washington Coloring Page

BIBLE: http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.html

Lets start off the Presidents Week by focusing on the Flag. It is a great place to begin, and will accompany every other lesson that follows.

HISTORY: OUR AMERICAN FLAG

• Show your child a picture of the American flag or a real flag. Explain that over 200 years ago, a flag similar to today’s flag was chosen to represent our country, the United States of America. Help your child count the 13 stripes, which stand for the original 13 states. Then together, count the stars, which stand for the number of states today. How many are there? (50)

Read the following passages and answer the questions below.

• The Thirteen StripesThe U.S. Flag has thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, each stripe representing one of the 13 original colonies of England.The 50 Stars

  The United States Flag has 50 stars, one for each state of the Union. The last star added was for the State of Hawaii, 1960.

  U.S. Flag Names

  • Stars and Stripes
  • Old Glory
  1. How many stripes does the U.S. flag have?
  2. What do the red and white stripes stand for?
  3. How many stars does the flag have?
  4. What do the stars stand for?
  5. What are the two other names for the United States flag?
• ACTIVITY: FLAG DISPLAY
  Take your child on a walk or ride to look for American flags on display. Count the ones you find and record the number, if you wish. Talk about the ways that the flags are hung. When you return, let your child help you display a flag in a window or in front of your home. Remind him that when handling the flag, it should never be allowed to touch the ground.
• ACTIVITY: Cut a 5-Pointed Star - George Washingtons original pencil sketch for the flag indicated 6-pointed stars, a form he apparently preferred. Take a thin piece of paper 8-1/2″ x 10″ (or an exact proportion thereof), fold it as indicated and cut yourself a perfect 5-pointed star.

• Step 1. Fold an 8-1/2″ x 10″ piece of paper in half.
• Step 2.Fold and unfold in half both ways to form creased center lines. (Note: be sure paper is still folded in half.)
• Step 3.Bring corner (1) right to meet the center line. Be sure to fold from the vertical crease line.
• Step 4.Bring corner (1) left till edges coincide, then make the fold.
• Step 5. Bring corner (2) left and fold.
• Step 6. Bring corner (2) right until edges coincide. Then fold.
• Step 7. Cut on the angle as shown in the picture. Then unfold the small piece.
• Step 8. Marvel at your perfect (we hope!) 5-pointed star!

• Say the Pledge of Allegiance