Fun Inauguration Activities for Kids {free printable!}

Excited to experience the presidential inauguration with the kids? Looking for a fun inauguration activity packet for kids to encourage learning about the United States, leadership, and democracy? I’ve got some inauguration day activities for kids they’re actually going to enjoy and learn a lot from. The best part? I’ve created a mega no-prep, print and go activity packet to help with just this…and it’s free!

Let’s do this!

Getting Ready for Inauguration Day

Did you know the Presidential Inauguration has taken place on January 20 since 1937 unless January 20 happens to land on a Sunday? In that case, the inauguration day gets moved to January 21?

Did you know there are multiple, highly detailed events taking place on inauguration day…not just the part we see on tv? You know, when the new president stands at the podium and takes an oath? Yep – the day is WAY more hectic than that!

Did you know the Vice President is actually sworn in before the President?

You guys, I swear…I consider myself to be a smart person, but it wasn’t until I started researching for my inauguration activity packet for kids that I learned all these awesome facts (and more!) about inauguration day. What “they” say is true: homeschool parents are often learning right along with the kids!

Learning such facts and historical tidbits aren’t necessarily required, but they can certainly help to up the educational value of experiencing an inauguration day, whether in person or through the television screen!

Along with completing the free inauguration day activity packet (containing over 50 pages! whoa!), there are a number of ways your family may consider making inauguration day more memorable like:

• hosting your very own inauguration day dinner party: have the kids research past inauguration day ball dishes and consider including a few in your celebrations
• learning about the presidents: while inauguration day focuses on the incoming (or second-term) president, the kids could also spend some time learning about the past presidents of the United States
• learning about the president’s home state: we always find it interesting to learn facts about the different states, so I bet your kids would enjoy the same! Try listening to the chirp of the state bird, identify the leaves of the state tree, and more!
• making a countdown: whether we’re planning a family vacation or looking forward to the next big holiday, my kids are always down for a countdown! To help countdown to inauguration day 2025, the kids could make a red, white, and blue paper chain countdown!
• learning about United States symbols: have the kids learn about bald eagles, the Statue of Liberty, or any other United States symbol!

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Why Learn about Inauguration Day?

Listen, I know January can be a busy month for you. I get it. It’s the start of the new year, so you’re likely working on some goal setting (grab printable vision boards in the Printable Playground!) with the kids, maybe learning about snowflakes, and possibly continuing my National Days to Celebrate in January writing prompts (seriously, they’re so much fun!).

But…the presidential inauguration typically only comes around every four years, so, if your kids are old enough to understand what’s going on, it’ll totally be worth the time and effort to include some inauguration activities into your month.

Need a few more reasons why you should totally include some presidential inauguration activities? I gotchu!

Learning about inauguration day can help kids to:

• think critically about leadership: Learning about the inauguration and its traditions can help kids think about what makes a strong leader. It encourages conversations about leadership traits, making decisions, and the responsibilities that come with leading.
• learn about civic responsibility: A presidential inauguration is a moment that showcases the peaceful handover of power, a key part of democracy. It’s a perfect chance for kids to understand why fair elections matter and what it means to be an active, responsible citizen in a democratic society.
• see history as being real and relatable: Teaching kids about inaugurations helps them connect with history in a meaningful way. It’s a chance to look at how past presidents handled their first days in office and the decisions they made that shaped the country.
• learn about government processes: The inauguration opens the door to understanding how the U.S. government functions. It highlights key concepts, like the president’s responsibilities, the role of Congress, and the importance of the Constitution. These ideas lay the foundation for learning about civics and how the nation is governed.
• be informed future citizens: When kids learn about events like the presidential inauguration, they grow up to be active, informed citizens. They’re more likely to vote, join conversations, and stay interested in what’s happening around them.
• be aware of national unity: An inauguration brings people together and symbolizes hope, fresh starts, and shared principles. It helps kids understand how diverse communities unite for the country’s progress.

Surprise, surprise, I’ve got some inauguration activities that can help with all of these and more!

Inauguration Activity Packet for Kids

You guys, I really went overboard on this activity packet. I just kept researching and creating and, before I knew it, the packet contained over 50 pages worth of educational activities. Holy moly!

Before I share all the details on accessing this free activity packet, let’s just spend a sec going over what’s included in the packet, shall we?

My presidential inauguration activity packet for kids includes:

• inauguration day-themed vocabulary words & definitions
• inauguration day-themed writing prompts featuring one prompt each of the following: Descriptive Writing, Persuasive Writing, Narrative Writing, Informational Writing, and Reflective Writing
• informational text and comprehension worksheets about:
  • What’s an Inauguration?
  • Why January 20?
  • Why the Capitol?
  • Why the Right Hand?
  • Procession to the Capitol
  • Vice-Presidential Oath of Office
  • Presidential Oath of Office
  • The Inaugural Address
  • Honorary Departure
  • Inaugural Signing Ceremony
  • Inaugural Luncheon
  • Pass in Review
  • Inaugural Parade
  • Inaugural Ball
  • What Happens after the Inauguration?
• Oath of Office fill-in-the-blanks page
• Draw a Commemorative Coin Art Activity
• Draw in Inaugural Invitation Art Activity
• Design a Presidential Parade Float Activity
• Design an Inaugural Ball Photo Booth
• Write an Inaugural Speech prompt
• Inauguration Scavenger Hunt
• 5 paper strip puzzles
• Inauguration Word Search (and answer page!)
• Inauguration Memory game (find even more ways to play memory games here!)

Get the Inauguration Day Activity Packet

No surprise, I’ve made it super duper easy for you to get access to the inauguration day activity packet! You can either:

• fill out the form below to get the downloadable PDF sent straight to your email inbox or…
• request access to the password-protected Printable Playground, my free & ever-growing collection of educational printables you can use in your homeschool days (some teachers even use them!)
  
  UPDATE: If you don’t see the email right away, PLEASE check all the sections of your email. Sometimes emails end up in junk/spam. If you have a gmail account, sometimes emails end up in the “promotional” folder. When you do open the email, consider changing your settings so emails sent from “elizabeth@thathomeschoolfamily.com” end up in your main inbox.

Happy Inauguration Day!

Inauguration activity packets are a fun way to turn important lessons into meaningful, memorable, and fun experiences for kids! Not only do they combine education and creativity, but they make learning civic topics easy for kids to understanding and exciting to explore.

What are your plans for the upcoming inauguration day? Share them below! My boys have already started on the paper chain countdown and are looking forward to watching the live coverage from the comfort of our home.

Until next time, stay safe and enjoy quality time with your family,