MATERIALS:

1. Background information provided by Dial-A-Teacher web site.

2. Resources on major American conflicts available at your Media Center and the Public Library.

3. Background information available through Internet "search engines".

4. President's Day Web Sites:
   www.noblenet.org/tty2pre.html
   www.usahistory.comtrivia/wwwboard/messages/212.html

5. Lincoln Web Sites:
   www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html
   www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/venue/5217/lincoln.html

6. Washington Web Sites:
   www.mountvernon.org
   www.osv.org/gw/wquiz2.html

ACTIVITIES:
May be assigned as group activities or as individual tasks.

1. Develop a time-line listing the events, which led to the observance of President's Day as a National Holiday. (This may be a permanent display in the classroom and holidays may be added as the year progresses.)

2. Research the lives of the presidents of the United States. (Presidents Washington and Lincoln should be a requirement). Prepare an illustrated poster project showing a map of the places where the particular president lived and traveled. A time line of major events during his life and his presidency. A three page report on his life and contributions to the U.S.. Include photographs, charts and graphs when appropriate. Allow individual students or groups of students to create their projects and present them to the class.

3. Prepare an investigative report to evaluate the evolution of the office of president. How have the powers of the presidency changed through the years? How has the office stayed the same? What forces have influenced these changes? How will the office evolve in the future?

4. Research the lives of the first ladies of the United States. What contributions did they make to the U.S. while their husbands were in office? Prepare an illustrated poster project showing a map of the places where she lived and traveled. A time line of major events during her life. A three-page report of her contributions to the U.S. Include photographs. Allow students to make oral presentations.

5. After the student's presentations: Compare and contrast the lives of the presidents and the first ladies studied. Draw conclusions on the impact of these people's lives on American society. (Example: Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights initiatives, FDR's economic programs...)

6. After the student's presentations: Allow students to write an essay explaining who their favorite president is and why.