Presidents Day is observed on the third Monday of February.  Choose from the following activities for a one-day unit study.

The third Monday in February is designated by Federal law as Washington's Birthday.

In 1971, President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring the holiday as Presidents Day, as it has become popularly known.  Presidents Day honors both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as well as all past presidents of the United States of America.  See more information at factmonster.com.

Read about the Duties and Qualifications of the President as they are stated in The Constitution of the United States, Article II.  This online copy provides links to Amendments 20, 22, and 25 that change portions of Article II.

The U.S. Government Printing Office offers a student-friendly, yet detailed, summary of U.S. presidential duties, including: Executive Branch, The President, Legislative Powers of the President, Requirements and Terms to become President, The President's Budget, The President's Cabinet, Order of Succession, and The Presidents of the United States (chart).  Ben's Guide:  Grades 3-5;  Grades 6-8;  Grades 9-12.

See a photo of all 40 Presidents and read a biographical sketch of each.

See background information, election results, cabinet members, notable events, and points of interest for each of the presidents at the Internet Public Library.  You will find links to biographies, homes, monuments, documents, audio and video files, and other sites.

Read speeches and documents of all the presidents, including their Inaugural Addresses and State of the Union messages.

•  See the overwhelming evidence that George Washington was a Christian at www.christiananswers.net.

•  Resources by D. James Kennedy:

"Was Lincoln A Christian?"  Free online video (13 minutes).  Also: complimentary booklet; CD; and DVD.

George Washington.  "The Faith of Washington" complimentary booklet;  "George Washington, The Christian" complimentary booklet;  "George Washington: Christian Or Deist?" complimentary booklet; CD, DVD.

New Book on Timely & Critical Issue Under God: George Washington and the Question of Church and State by Tara Ross and Joseph C. Smith, Jr. The Supreme Court has written "separation of church and state" into our Constitution. Learn why George Washington would strongly disagree! Order online for 34% Off. Contains a copious appendix containing the full texts of his letters, speeches, and official documents on issues of church and state. This book is a must-read for every patriotic citizen. – Edwin Meese, Former US Attorney General. Tara Ross has also written Enlightened Democracy: The Case for the Electoral College.  Order online for 32% off.

 •  Annie's Presidents' Day Page.  Information, activities, and links at www.annieshomepage.com.

 •  Many learning activities from EnchantedLearning.com.

 •  More than 100 learning activities for Presidents' Day.

"O Captain, My Captain" was written by Walt Whitman about the assassination of President Lincoln.

•  Recite or read the poem with appropriate expression.

•  Study the meaning of the poem.  See poem and link to "poem explanation" at www.galegroup.com.

 •  Listen to a "Hail to the Chief" the tune traditionally played by the United States Marine Band to announce the ceremonial entrance of the U.S. Commander-in-Chief – the President of the United States.

 •  Read the story of "Hail to the Chief."

 •  Take the Virtual White House Tour or listen to "The President's Own" US Marine Band as you take a virtual tour of White House conducted by John Philip Sousa at MarineBand.usmc.

 •  Learn how you can visit the White House in person.

 •  Check your local library or video store for videos on the White House (by A&E).

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Historian Carter Woodson, the son of former slaves, chose the month of February as Black History Month (originally “Negro History Week”) because of the proximity of the birthdays of emancipator Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and abolitionist Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14).

A Christian perspective of this topic, as well as what God and science say about the "races" is provided below.

Jesus prayed, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me . . . that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity.”  (John 17:20-23)

Free Indeed: Heroes of Black Christian History contains an overview of black church history, including 13 biographical sketches of leading black Christians.  From Bob Jones University Press.

A historian has commented, “One of the greatest miracles and movements in all Christian history is the acceptance of the Gospel by so many African-Americans.

“The slaves not only appropriated the faith that was culturally identified with the oppressor, but gave it enriched meaning and depth, not least through their music and worship.”

Also see spirituals at Cyber Hymnal.

"The history of black American church leaders resonates with faith and heroism.

"In addition to the challenges that normally confront heralds of the gospel, African American Christians also faced slavery and racial discrimination.

"Their deep love for Christ and their fellow believers and their passion for lost souls made them dauntless soldiers for the Lord, proclaiming the way of salvation and the equality of all men and women in God's sight."

(From description of Free Indeed, published by Bob Jones University Press.)

Read online article, "Through Many Trials and Snares," inspiring stories taken from Free Indeed (above).

Read Articles online by David Barton, founder and president of WallBuilders, including:

Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White by David Barton.  A unique view of the religious and moral heritage of African Americans that has been expertly intertwined with untold, yet significant, stories from our rich African American political history.  Book or video.

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(Information quoted and taken from The Revised & Expanded Answers Book by Don Batten, Ken Ham, Jonathan Sarfati, and Carl Wieland, chapter 18 online.)

According to God's Word, all humans on earth today are descended from Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives, and before that from Adam and Eve.

All the factors for skin color were present in Adam and Eve.  The amount of the skin pigment melanin determines skin color, just as the amount of fat around the eye determines eye shape.

Modern genetics show how, following a break-up of a population (such as the Tower of Babel), variations in skin color, for example, can develop in only a few generations.

The biological differences between the “races” today are not very great.  In fact, the DNA of any two people in the world would typically differ by just 0.2 percent!  Of this, only 6 percent can be linked to racial categories; the rest is “within race” variation.

There is really only one race—the human race.  The Bible teaches us that God has “made of one blood all nations of men” (Acts 17:26).  Scripture distinguishes people by tribal or national groupings, not by skin color or physical appearance.

Read dozens of articles on Answers in Genesis website, plus listen to several recorded seminar sessions by Ken Ham.  Topics include:
 • How have evolutionary ideas contributed to racism and violence?
 • Where did the human races come from?
 • What is the Bible's view on interracial marriage and racism?

Online article with understandable scientific discussion of genes and chromosomes.