Presidents’ Day, which falls on February 20, 2023, celebrates all those who served as presidents of the United States. Use this day as an opportunity to teach students about the role of the president and the executive branch. Check out our resources for learning about presidential contributions to our nation’s history.
Featured Resources
*ELEMENTARY RESOURCE*
What Made People Think George Washington Would Be a Good President?
Historians ask questions. In this lesson, students will use inquiry to discover what made people at the time think George Washington would be a good president.
*MS/HS RESOURCE*
Being President WebQuest
Ever wondered what it would be like to be President of the United States? Find out what the president does every day, who their helpers are, and how this important job affects their life and the lives of others.
Meet the First Presidents
Introduce your students to a few of our nation’s first presidents! These mini-lessons explain the influence these leaders had on the creation of the United States of America and how they used the presidency to shape the country into what it is today.
Explore the various roles George Washington played in the country’s early years.
Discover how Thomas Jefferson influenced the founding of the United States.
Dig into how James Madison shaped the government the United States has today.
iCivics President Games
Put your students into the shoes of the president with our simulation games. From running for office to commanding the armed forces, these games explore the various roles the president plays in running the United States. Don’t forget to use each game’s extension pack to give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess key concepts.
All three games and extension packs are available in both Spanish and English!
Executive Command
Being the president is no easy task. Are you up to the challenge?
Convene the Council
Respond to world events and practice foreign policy.
President Lesson Plans
Dive into our executive branch curriculum with these off-the-shelf lesson plans that include vocabulary development, graphic organizers, and a case study opportunity.
The Modern President
(HS)
Look at the Framers’ original vision for the presidency and explore how the role has expanded and evolved since it was established.
Second Branch: The Executive
(HS)
Take a deep dive into Article II of the Constitution to examine the structure and function of the executive branch.
Why President?
(HS)
Examine why the Framers created the presidency, how the role differed from other world leaders, and the power and limits of the position.
Learn about some of the decisions and actions the first presidential administrations took to make sure the United States would be strong enough to last.
For The President, All In A Day’s Work (MS)
Discover the primary responsibilities of the president and how those duties connect to the powers the Constitution grants to the Executive Branch.
Foreign Policy
(HS)
Learn what foreign policy is, discover the agencies that execute it, and examine how the legislative and executive branches sometimes clash.
President Videos
Explore the parts of the Constitution that grant power to the president with these videos from our Constitution EXPLAINED series.
Article II creates the office of the President of the United States.
Article II gives powers to the president with the responsibility to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
Amendments 20, 22, and 25 changed the office of the president.
President Mini-Lessons
Learn more about the presidency and its functions with these mini-lessons.
The First 100 Days
(MS/HS)
Discover the history behind the “First 100 Days” and its impact on the American presidency.
The Presidential Agenda
(MS/HS)
Take a look at how the presidential agenda is developed, shared, and executed.
Executive Orders
(HS)
Analyze how presidents use executive orders to wield power.
Presidential Appointments
(HS)
Learn about unilateral presidential appointments, nominations, and the Senate confirmation process.
Pardon Power
(HS)
Explore presidential pardons, commutations, and the limitations on these powers.
Veto Power
(HS)
Examine the presidential veto and pocket veto powers, their roles as negotiating tools, and the Congressional veto override process.
President Infographics
Provide visually appealing, graphically concise, and substantive overviews of key concepts using iCivics’ infographics.
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