With Valentine’s Day behind us, our minds and stores have quickly turned to St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Passover and Easter.

But don’t overlook Presidents' Day—it can be fun for the kids (and you) as well. 

After gathering the two lonely books I own about presidents and a few patriotic decorations I have, I grabbed my old tattered preschool lesson plans which had some cute, and more importantly, easy activities.

Lunch (or dinner):

* Hamilton-&-Cheese Cracker Sandwiches

* Franklin-furters (mini hotdogs)

* Lincoln Logs (pretzel rods)

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PM Snack:

Washington’s Cherry Thumbprint Cookies-depending on age the kids can make these entirely themselves!

Ingredients:

• Sugar cookie mix or refrigerator dough
• Maraschino cherries

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Prepare Sugar cookie mix, according to package directions
• Roll the dough into balls
• Kids press their thumbprints into the dough balls
• Place a maraschino cherry in each thumbprint
• Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes

(adapted from Macmillan Early Skills Program, copyright 1983)

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Dessert:

Easy Cherry Crisp

Ingredients:

• 2-21oz. cans cherry pie filling
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• whipped cream (optional)
• vanilla iced cream (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Pour pie filling into 9x13 baking pan
• In a small bowl, combine flour and butter.  Blend with a pastry blender or fork.  Add sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Mix well; sprinkle over cherries.
• Bake for 30 minutes.  If desired, serve with whipped cream or use as a topping for vanilla iced cream.  Makes 24 small servings.

 (from Macmillan Early Skills Program, copyright 1983)

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Afternoon Activities:

• Shine your pennies-soak pennies in a bowl of white vinegar, then use salt to scrub them until shiny.  Rinse and towel dry.  These can be used for the following game:

• Toss Some Lincolns— float “the bank,” a small plastic container in a large tub of water.  Then give the kids 10 pennies each to toss in.  The one with the most money in the bank wins.  (I swear this in no way relates to the old game of “quarters” we used to play!)

• If the cool temperatures keep you stuck inside, break out the piggy banks and roll your coins to deposit at the real bank.  No need to give Coinstar 8% of your money and it is a great boredom buster!

• Lost Lincolns-hide pennies around the house to create a treasure hunt.  The kids get to keep the coins found.

(First two activities are adapted from February 2011 Family Fun Magazine)

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Tonight’s Bedtime Stories:

“Presidents' Day” by Anne Rockwell

“George Washington and the Cherry Tree” Adapted by Catherine McCafferty

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Some additional websites:

• Funny presidential facts http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/georgewashingtonicecream/
• Coloring Sheets: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/presidents-day/
• Short Presidential Stories: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/george-washington/short-stories/the-cherry-tree.html
• Activities for any age level can be selected at: http://www.apples4theteacher.com