PRESIDENTS MODULE
CONTENTS
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Presidents Module
Presidents Teacher’s Guide
George Washington PPT
Lincoln PPT
Lincoln: vocabulary
Lincoln : vocabulary practice
Presidents Day History (intermediate)
Presidents Day History: What have you learned?
Presidents Day Customs (intermediate)
Presidents Day Customs: Check for understanding
Washington/Lincoln Comparison worksheet
Washington/Lincoln Comparison (teacher’s guide)
George Washington Crossword Puzzle
Abe Lincoln Crossword Puzzle
President’s Day: Let’s Talk About You.
Presidents Teacher’s Guide
The President lessons include 2 PowerPoint presentations,
one on George Washington and the other on Abraham
Lincoln. The Power Points are focused on the background of
each of these two great leaders. There are also worksheets
and lessons that focus on vocabulary and content.
These lessons are designed for beginning ESL students to
low intermediate ESL students. You may choose the
activities and worksheets that are appropriate for the level
of your class. The Power Points should be used as an
introduction for all levels since the visual images will help
with comprehension and stimulate a lively class discussion
as well as engaging pair and group work.
The goal of all the presentations is to teach American
culture while developing new vocabulary. These lessons are
not meant to replace your regular curricula but rather to
enhance and enrich the study of American customs and
traditions as they apply to your particular course.
Please feel free to use any of the materials available as they
apply to your course.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
VOCABULARY
Do you know these words?
NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES
poor
fireplace
lawyer
slaves
free
president
continent
terrible
war
ACTION WORDS
win/won
plan/planned
lose/lost
shoot/shot
save/saved
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
_________________
VOCABULARY PRACTICE
Complete the sentences with words from your vocabulary list.
1. Lincoln’s family had very little money. They were _______________.
2. Lincoln said it was wrong to own another person. It was wrong to buy
____________.
3. Lincoln had no candles to read at night, so he studied by the
_______________ in his log cabin.
4. There was a terrible ______________ between the North and the South.
5. Lincoln said that slaves must be emancipated. They must be __________.
6. Lincoln became the leader of his country. He was the 16th _____________
of the United States.
7. The South lost the war; the North ____________ the war.
8. John Wilkes Booth _______________ President Lincoln in the Ford
Theater.
9. Lincoln _____________ the United States from being divided in two
countries.
Use these words to write sentences about Lincoln.
Lincoln/ slaves/ to free
John Wilkes Booth/ to shoot/ Lincoln/ Ford Theater
________________________________________________________________
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
History
George Washington was known as the “Father of His Country”. He was born in Virginia.
Washington helped shape the beginning of the United States in three ways. First, he
was the commander in chief of the Continental Army that won independence for the 13 British
colonies from Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. In 1787, he was the president of the
Constitutional Convention that wrote the United States Constitution. And, he was the first
elected president of the United States. He was the only president to be elected unanimously.
He served two terms and died in 1799 in his home at Mount Vernon. He was 67 years old.
Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky. He was elected
President of the United States. He was elected the 16 th President of the United States. It is said
that, if he had not lived, the United States might be two countries today, instead of one.
Lincoln was president during a difficult period of American history. Just before he started his
presidency, eleven southern states broke away from the United States and started their own
country. They called it the Confederate States of America. The country was divided in a civil
war. President Lincoln was able to end the conflict and unite the country.
He did not believe in slavery. His famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, expresses his
beliefs. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in 1863.
Sadly, President Lincoln was shot to death by an actor whose name was John Wilkes
Booth. He thought he was helping the South. Many many people were saddened by Lincoln’s
death.
READING: INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
History
What have you learned?
CIRCLE THE WORD THAT BEST COMPLETES THE SENTENCE.
1. George Washington (chopped down/ planted) a cherry tree when he was
young.
2. President Lincoln was able to (separate/ unite) a nation divided by slavery.
3. Lincoln didn’t believe in (democracy/ slavery).
4. Washington was a leader who helped win the (Civil War/ Revolutionary
War).
5. The Civil War was a tragic (holiday/ conflict) during Lincoln’s presidency.
6. Washington was the only U.S. president to be elected (independently/
unanimously).
7. Lincoln was born in a (large house/ log cabin).
8. President Lincoln was killed by an (actor/ soldier) from the South.
9. The Gettysburg Address is a famous speech given by (Lincoln/ Washington).
10. George Washington helped to write the (Gettysburg address/ the U.S.
Constitution).
SHARE YOUR ANSWERS WITH YOUR PARTNER.
READING: INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
CUSTOMS
In February, the United States honors two great American
presidents: Abraham Lincoln, on February 12th and George Washington,
on February 22nd . These two days are combined into one legal holiday
on the third Monday in February, called Presidents’ Day.
Both presidents have been honored in different ways. George
Washington is the only president to have a state named after him. The
nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. also has his name. There are cities,
towns, streets, schools, hospitals, bridges, and parks named after both
presidents. Both have famous memorials in Washington, D.C. Their
portraits also appear on postage stamps, bills, and coins. Washington’s
house in Mount Vernon and Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, have
been made into museums.
Cherry pie is a traditional food for Washington’s Birthday because
of a popular legend. It is said that as a boy Washington chopped down
his father’s cherry tree. When asked by his father, he admitted to his
wrongdoing and said “I cannot tell a lie.”
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
CUSTOMS: Check for understanding.
Fill in the missing words. Share your answers with your partner.
In February, the United States honors two great American
presidents: Abraham Lincoln, on February ________ and George
Washington, on February ______ . These two days are combined into
one legal holiday on the third Monday in February, called Presidents’ Day.
Both presidents have been honored in different ways.
_____________________ is the only president to have a state named
after him. The nation’s capital, _________________________, also has
his name. There are cities, towns, streets, schools, hospitals, bridges, and
parks named after both presidents. Both have famous memorials in
Washington, D.C. Their portraits also appear on postage_________,
________, and coins. Washington’s house in Mount Vernon and
Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, have been made into__________.
___________ pie is a traditional food for Washington’s Birthday
because of a popular legend. It is said that as a boy Washington
__________ down his father’s cherry tree. When asked by his father, he
admitted to his wrongdoing and said “I cannot tell a lie.”
WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN
Let’s compare these two great presidents. Talk with your partner.
Use adjectives, nouns or action words.
APPEARANCE
Washington
Lincoln
tall
very tall
CHILDHOOD
INTERESTS
WEALTH
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN COMPARISON/ TEACHER’S GUIDE
Following, are a list of possible words for students to use to compare the two
presidents. You may write them on the board before students work or you may
use the words after students have completed their comparison.
These are just some possibilities. Point out that in some cases words apply to both
men.
Tall/short
Thin/average weight
Athletic
Friendly/ quiet/ kind
Social
Generous
Wealthy/ poor
Farmer/ lawyer
Married
Handsome/ attractive/ homely
Wise
President during: Civil War/ Revolutionary War
1st President (elected unanimously)
16th President
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Let’s talk about you.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY. PREPARE TO DISCUSS YOUR ANSWERS
WITH YOUR CLASSMATES.
1. Do you have a national holiday that celebrates a famous leader of
your country?
2. What is the leader’s name?
3. When did he or she live?
4. Why is he or she famous?
5. What did he or she do?