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George Washington Birthday Resources

Celebrate George Washington's 281st Birthday!

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  The first known celebration of his birth was held in 1781 in Newport, Rhode Island when the Comte de Rochambeau ordered the celebration for the French forces who aided the Americans during the Revolution.
Massachusetts was the first state to officially celebrate Washington’s birthday as a holiday, in 1856.  Since 1879 the date has been a legal work holiday for Federal employees in the District of Columbia, and in 1885 it became a legal work holiday for all Federal employees.
Today, Washington’s Birthday is celebrated on the third Monday of February. While some states celebrate this day as "President's Day" we still celebrate it as "Washington’s Birthday" here at Mount Vernon.

 

Celebrating In The Classroom

Want to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday in your classroom? The following resources can be used to introduce George Washington to your students, and to plan a classroom birthday bash in his honor.

 

Guide To Celebrating George Washington In The Classroom

Included in the guide are 2 classroom activities to help celebrate George Washington's Birthday. 

  1. Reading the News asks students to fill out a primary source analysis worksheet using an article from the Massachusetts Gazette dated March 13, 1787 (the article is included) that reports on a celebration of Washington's birthday.
  2. Celebrating George Washington challenges students to create a celebration plan for your classroom or school.
George Washington’s Birthday Prezi

Show your students this short Prezi Presentation about George Washington’s Birthday.  Students will find out why he has 2 birthdays, which member of his family was married on his birthday, and how the celebration of George Washington’s Birthday morphed into the celebration we call President's Day.

Flat George Washington

Show us how you celebrate in your classroom! We'll share photos of your classroom celebrating George Washington's Birthday in a photo album on our Facebook page, Mount Vernon For Teachers!

 

Lesson Plans and Activities

The following Lesson Plans and Activities have been adapted from lessons created by our Summer Teachers' Institute participants.

 

Additional Resources