Presidents Day

This is an often over looked holiday anymore. But being an election year here in the states, it's a good time to remember it. These are my two favorite crafts for the holiday. I did them in school so it was easy to enjoy doing them with students.
This is sandwiched between Washington and Lincoln's birthdays, so those are the two most commonly remembered.
The first craft is the stovepipe hat.
This is for 3rd grade and older.
Materials:
Round Oatmeal box
Cardboard large enough to make a brim.
Black construction paper (or black paint if you want this to be a two day project)
Glue
Scissors
String(any yarn would work)or elastic
Cut the cardboard in a circle about 5 inches wider than the oatmeal box.
Find the center of the circle, trace the box in the center of the circle.
If you're going to paint the hat, this is where to do that. Let it completely dry
Cut out a little smaller than the shape of the oatmeal box circle.
Younger students can cut a slit into the trace marks, older ones could punch a hole from the center out. Or an adult could get them started. We just don't want anyone punching a hole in their hand.
If you didn't paint: Glue the contruction paper to all the surfaces of the hat. Don't forget to do both sides of the cardboard circle and the top of the hat.
Glue the oatmeal box to the cardboard circle
Attach string to hat to hold it under the chin

If you prefer a smaller project, check out these sites:

Paper KinderCrafts - EnchantedLearning.com

Very Best Kids

My other favorite incorperates team work.
Black paper silhouettes.
Materials:
Good light source
Black paper
White paper
White chalk
Scissors -the older the students the finer the scissors can be
Glue
Tape the black paper to to wall. Student 1 sits in a chair so that their shadow appears within the size of the paper. Using the white chalk, student 2 traces the silhouette. Older students should be able to achieve more detail. Change the paper. Student 2 sits, student 1 traces. Then each cuts out their own "picture"
Glue the silhouette to the white paper.
When I did this with a group of 5 year olds we did front views. The adults did the cutting out then the children colored them in with markers.
When I did it with 4th graders they make frames with black cardstock.
Everytime I've done it the parents have loved it.

I hope you enjoy celebrating this often over looked day to remember the men who have been the President of the United States.