It’s Inauguration day! No matter how you feel about the new president, this is a great opportunity to get your child involved in this democratic process! See below for our list of ideas to help your kids learn about this historic day!
1. Memorize all of the U.S. Presidents names
What better way to get a jump start on 3rd grade history class than by memorizing all of the presidents in order, including the new one being sworn in! Here’s a great song to help:
2. Learn all about Inauguration day
Why is inauguration day on January 20th? When did the very first inauguration occur? Get the Inauguration Celebration kit from the writers of the children’s book Our White House by clicking here.
3. Inauguration Day Coloring Book
Download this free easy reader coloring book for a perfect inauguration day activity for your preschooler.
4. Build the White House
Build your own version of the White House using materials found around your home! You could use more sturdy materials like cardboard boxes, or just do a 2D model with some cut out construction paper shapes.
5. Host your own Inaugural Ball
Unlike previous inaugurations, this year’s event will NOT feature the numerous balls due to the pandemic. So, throw your own at home! Get dressed up, serve fancy foods, or give your favorite snacks themed names like “President Pretzels.” Play music, dance, or (if your kids are old enough) put on Hamilton on Disney+ and dig into the story of the founding of America! Get some more ball ideas here.
6. Watch Live Streams for Kids
On Wednesday morning “Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans” will take place before and during the inauguration ceremony starting at 10 a.m. EST. The event will also feature a message from incoming First Lady and will feature a segment on the new Presidential Pets! View the live stream here.
Following the inauguration of the new administration, on Wednesday at 8:30 PM, Tom Hanks will host Celebrating America, a 90-minute special celebrating the inauguration with performances from Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons, and Jon Bon Jovi. Tune in to ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC to watch. It will also be streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW, DirectTV and U-verse.
7. Play “Inaugural I Spy”
While watching the inauguration, use this scorecard to have your kids identify and check off the important “players” taking part in this year’s inaugural ceremonies. Be sure to have the kids look for and check off the historical sites, too!
8. Design your own Oval Office
Did you know that each new president is given a budget to decorate the oval office to his personal tastes? Encourage kids to use crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers to sketch their designs for the oval office. Explore past designs for inspiration. Get more information about this activity here.
9. Design a Parade Float
Here’s another creative, hands-on activity! Typically the inauguration parade contains a float designed specifically for the new president. Have each member of your family create their own mini-float and have your own parade! Get more information here.
10. Pick your own Presidential Cabinet
The Presidential Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments listed in the image below. After reading about the different departments, have each member of your family select someone they know to serve as the head of each department and explain why!
11. Visit a Presidential Historic Site
Due to the current state of our nation, you may want to wait until after the inauguration, but later this month is a great time to visit some historical locations around Raleigh related to our presidents! See below for a few ideas:
- The 17th president, Andrew Johnson, was actually born in Raleigh! His birthplace was relocated to the Mordecai Historic Park from nearby Fayetteville Street. You can spend some time here touring the grounds and seeing history right in front of your eyes. If you want to go inside the historic Mordecai home, there’s a free Friday tour on Jan 22nd from 10am-3pm. Get more details on our Raleigh Tot Spots Calendar!
- Only a mile away from the Mordecai House is the North Carolina State Capitol building. There you can see statues of George Washington and the three presidents that came from North Carolina – Polk, Jackson, and Johnson. This is also where NC’s electoral college casts their vote for president every 4 years! The building is not currently open to the public due to the pandemic, but it’s typically open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m for self-guided tours. Admission is free, but you may want to call ahead to confirm hours of operation, 919-733-4994.
- Also located in Raleigh, the North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of North Carolina, but also serves as a meeting space and historic site. The Executive Mansion was once described by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as “the most beautiful governor’s residence in America.” The mansion is currently not open to the public, but you can walk around the building on the sidewalk outside to get a good view of the gardens.
- Visit the NC Museum of History for the complete history of our state and the people who helped shape it throughout the years. The exhibits cover American Indian life, European settlement, piracy, the American Revolution and early 1800s farm life. It continues through the antebellum era, the Civil War, the rise of industry, the Great Depression, the two World Wars, and the Civil Rights movement.
- The goal of the City Of Raleigh Museum is to “preserve Raleigh’s past for its future.” Their newest exhibit tells the story of city government and democracy at a local level, from the election of Raleigh’s first mayor in 1795 to issues facing current and future mayors. This interactive exhibit highlights the citizen role in law-making, giving visitors the opportunity to examine significant decisions from Raleigh’s past and cast their vote on current challenges facing our growing city. Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-4pm, and Sunday: 1pm-4pm.
We want to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below, what are you doing to commemorate this historical day? Will you be involving your children in anyway?