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Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom

Calendar


February

Presidents' Day

Photo

Presidents' Day is intended to honor all the American presidents, but two presidents actually had birthdays in February - George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Prior to 1968, the birthdays of both men were celebrated as separate holidays, although only Washington's birthday was celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress created a uniform system of federal Monday holidays. They voted to shift the federal holiday celebrating Washington's birthday to the third Monday in February. Some states decided to call the holiday Presidents' day, and today that is the name commonly used for the holiday.

February 12 is Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

In 1862 Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act of Congress establishing the US Department of Agriculture.

Activity

Students research online to find more about the establishment of the US Department of Agriculture in 1862.

February 22 is George Washington's Birthday

George Washington is known as the father of our country, but his great love was agriculture. He was happiest when conducting agricultural experiments on his farm at Mt. Vernon.

Activity

Students research online to find some of the contributions George Washington made to agriculture through his experiments.

George Washington on the Farm
Students learn about George Washington's contributions to American agriculture.
Dear George: Using Census Data to Report on Agriculture
6th-8th Grade ELA and Social Studies
Students use Census of Agriculture information to compose a letter about agriculture in the US and translate correspondence about agriculture from George Washington into modern language.
Writing Prompts
  • Write a story, beginning with this sentence: "George Washington did not chop down the cherry tree."
  • Write a letter to the president explaining why agriculture is important.
Book
Thomas, Peggy, and Layne Johnson, Farmer George Plants a Nation, Boyds Mill, 2008. (Grades PreK-3)
This picture book biography focuses on George Washington's life as a farmer, inventer and scientist. Washington's goal to make his estate self-sufficient carries over to his goal to make the new country independent.