Inauguration Day 2025 lands on Monday, January 20th. The days leading up to it are an excellent time to implement engaging Inauguration Day activities for kids in your upper elementary. Whether it will be their first time experiencing this event or their second, here are some simple activities that will help deepen their understanding of Inauguration Day.
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Read Aloud & Videos
One of the best ways to introduce your upper elementary students to Inauguration Day is through books and videos.
Read Aloud
While you won’t find too many kids’ books focused on Inauguration Day, a great book to share is A Parade for George Washington. This book provides a historical look at America’s first President and the very first inauguration.
Videos
Videos can make the experience more vivid and memorable. Here are a few great options. I suggest looking through them and choosing the one that best meets your students’ needs. These videos vary in length, so you’ll want to consider how much time you have to show them.
- Presidential Inaugurations Explained: A quick over view that’s great for getting students familiar with the procedures and traditions.
- The Presidential Inauguration in American History: This video from PBS Learning Media goes into the history and significance of the inauguration.
- Understanding Inauguration Day: Discovery Education offers a more in depth explanation into what Inauguration Day is all about. I especially love that they include students asking questions that get answered throughout the video.
Activities
Inauguration Day activities offer a unique opportunity to blend civic education with historical context. Here are some adaptable activities that can be done before or after Inauguration Day. These will help students understand and connect with the significant event.
Option 1: Create an Inauguration Day Timeline
Before the day, have students research and create a timeline of a typical Inauguration Day’s events. This will include from the swearing-in to the evening celebrations. This activity helps them understand sequence and significance of the events.
Option 2: Inauguration Day Research Project
Have the students do some research on the history through a one-page Inauguration Day research project. This worksheet allows students to explore the day’s history, ceremony details, and notable presidents.
Option 3: Puzzles
Engage your students with Inauguration themed puzzles that feature presidency symbols and Washington, D.C. landmarks. Activities such as Sudoku, crosswords, word searches and mazes can help reinforce knowledge about the U.S. government and history. They are perfect for home or classroom use.
Option 4: Write a Letter to the President
Encourage students to write letters to the newly inaugurated President. They can express their hopes for the nation, suggest changes, or discuss important issues. You can then post them up, create a book, or send them off the White House.
Conclusion
Inauguration Day offers a unique opportunity to teach your students about the U.S. government while incorporate a historical current event. These types of activities empower our students as future voters and active citizens. I hope these Inauguration Day activities for kids make the day exciting for your students.
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