My most favorite way to teach my children is by using books. Both of my girls absolutely love to be read to. It’s been a part of our daily routine since they were babies. A big part of our homeschooling has always been reading books. So much can be learned by simply picking up a book and reading it to your child! Since today is President’s Day and Little Bug had no school, I told the girls we didn’t have school today but I had some books to read for President’s Day today. Little Bug had them out and was looking through them before I was ready to sit down and read to the girls!

We began by pulling out our President’s placemat. Little Bug wanted to count them, so she started and then she realized they were already numbered on the placemat. She went to the last one and read the number: 44! Then Sweet Pea wanted me to help her count all the Presidents so we counted one by one all the way to 44! I pointed out George Washington and how he was the 1st president and I pointed out Abraham Lincoln and how he was the 16th president. I told the girls both of those presidents were born in February so that is why we celebrate President’s Day in February.

On the back of the placemat there were some fun facts about the presidents (Lincoln was the tallest president) and then it also had a picture of Mount Rushmore. Little Bug jumped up and said, “I’ve seen that before!”. She went to her Curious George book Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon and turned to the page that showed Mount Rushmore! I love to see my girls make connections like this when reading!

The placemat talk had gotten Little Bug very interested in learning more about President Lincoln. So, she wanted us to read Looking at Lincoln first. What an excellent book this was to teach young children all about Abraham Lincoln from his birth through his presidency and assassination! Then we read President’s Day which was another good book that explained all about President’s Day and why we celebrate this day every year. The other two books we will read later this week. (If I Were President and George Washington’s Birthday)

While reading I remembered that I had a scrapbook about my trip to Washington DC when I went on a Safety Patrol trip as a chaperone with a friend of mine who was an elementary teacher! It was such a fun trip! It was June of 2001 and back in the day before digital photography! I took all these pictures, had them developed and then made a scrapbook. Little did I know, almost 14 years later, I would be pulling it out to show my children pictures on President’s Day!

I showed them the Washington Monument which we had read about and seen pictures of in the books we had read. They both leaned in close to the page and said, “That’s you, Mommy!”. Yep, it sure is!

We spent the most time on the pages about the Lincoln Memorial and the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated. I have pictures of the boot John Booth was wearing when he shot Lincoln and the coat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot. Little Bug was fascinated.

And then I showed them pictures of The United States Capitol building and The White House!

For having “no school” today, we sure learned a lot! I love days like this when learning just takes place naturally.

- Elaine