President's Day in Kindergarten

I love Abraham Lincoln.

He is definitely my favorite president.  So...with President's Day coming up, I wanted to do something fun with my kids so that they would be able to better understand and know who Abraham Lincoln was and what a wonderful man he was. 

As my brain was going crazy with ideas, I just kept coming back to the thought that I wish they could just meet Abraham Lincoln, and talk with him. The more I thought about it, the more I thought, "Hey, this could work!" I kept seeing visions of Dave dressed up in a top hat with a beard, talking in an Abraham Lincoln voice. Well...I guess you could say my dreams became reality. I talked Dave into dressing up and coming to talk to my little cuties. He was actually very excited to do it. He loves history, he loves little kids, and he loves to play a character. So...he hit three birds with 1 stone and was excited to come in and talk. 

 

He looks pretty good, don't you think??

We set it up so it would be like an interview. I asked him questions to which he responded with answers that got the kids to know Abraham Lincoln a little bit deeper. For example, we learned that Mr. Lincoln received a letter from a little girl who wanted him to grow a beard. She said that he would look much more handsome with a beard, and that if he had a beard, the ladies could all tease their husbands to vote for him. He figured he needed all the votes he could get, so he grew a beard. We learned that he didn't actually like the nickname Abe. We also learned that he was a GREAT wrestler - nobody could beat him. In fact, one of my cutest little guys asked Mr. Lincoln this question: "Well, you were really a great wrestler and nobody could beat you - so why was the Civil War so hard for you?" I about died because it was so darling. Cute Dave responded and talked about how a war involves more people than one, and Mr.  Lincoln wasn't the only one fighting. The kids LOVED it, and were so excited to meet him.

After he left and we were back in our own classroom, a few kids came up to me to tell me how crazy it was that Mr. Lincoln looked a LOT like Mr. Egbert! They were so cute, and I think most of them actually believed that the real Abraham Lincoln came to talk to them. :) 

The day was perfect, and I always love an excuse to see Dave in the middle of a work day. He was so sweet and supportive of my idea. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who is willing to go along with my crazy ideas!