In
this lesson you will learn about Presidents' Day. You will watch the
video or read the video script and take a test to check
your listening and reading comprehension.
Hi. In the classroom today you will learn about Presidents' Day.
Presidents' Day is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the
third Monday in February.
The holiday was originally implemented by the federal government of
the United States of America in 1880 for government offices in the
District of Columbia.
It was expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices.
As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the
holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February
22nd.
On January 1st, 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third
Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
In the late 1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term
"Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.
The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another
President born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and often other
Presidents of the United States.
The presidents of the United States are honored in many other ways.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located near Keystone, South
Dakota.
Mount Rushmore is a monumental granite sculpture which represents
the first 150 years of the history of the United States of America.
The following four presidents are honored.
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
Approximately two million people visit this memorial each year.
Until next time.
Watch the movie trailer
The American President is a 1995 romantic comedy starring Michael
Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Richard Dreyfuss and Michael
J. Fox. In the film, President Andrew Shepherd (Douglas) is a
widower who pursues a relationship with attractive lobbyist Sydney
Ellen Wade (Bening) - who has just moved to Washington, D.C. - while
at the same time attempting to win passage of a crime control bill.
The following video is a trailer (preview) for the movie. Try to
understand as much of the movie trailer as possible. Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Presidents'
Day is a very important United States federal holiday. Listen to the video or read the video script.
Then take the following test to check your listening
and reading comprehension skills.
1. Presidents' Day is celebrated on which day?
2. Which of the following is true about Presidents' Day?
3. The holiday was originally implemented in which year?
4. Presidents' Day is the first federal holiday to honor
which of the following?
5. What shifted the holiday to the third Monday in February?
6. Where is Mount Rushmore National Memorial located?
7. What is Mount Rushmore?
8. What does Mount Rushmore represent?
9. Which four presidents are represented on Mount Rushmore?
10. How many people visit Mount Rushmore each year?
In
this lesson you will learn about Presidents' Day. You will watch the
video or read the video script and take a test to check
your listening and reading comprehension.
Presidents'
Day is a very important United States federal holiday. Listen to the video or read the video script.
Then take the following test to check your listening
and reading comprehension skills.
