The first American flag appeared before the United States was an independent nation. Draw three rough sketches of the Grand Union Flag, the first U.S. flag designed after the United States gained its independence, and the current American Flag. Describe what the symbols in each flag represent. How does today's flag reflect the nation's history as well as the present? Then design your own flag to represent a place or group that's important to you, such as your family or your school. Include symbols to represent the values, events, or people that are important to that place or group.
The Great Seal that represents our country can be found on important documents, medals, and even on dollar bills. Although it is a symbol of our country, it is filled with many symbols too. On small index cards, write the following symbols: bald eagle, olive branch with 13 leaves and berries; bunch of 13 arrows; shield with 13 lines; banner "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"); unfinished pyramid; MDCCLXXVI. Play "guess the symbol" with a partner. Look at each card. Without showing your partner, describe what the symbol represents. See if your partner can guess the symbol.
The Liberty Bell is an important symbol of American freedom. Make a brief timeline to describe the life of the Liberty Bell. Each step on the timeline does not have to include a specific date, but be sure to include its beginning, events that occurred in 1753, 1776, 1846, and where it's found today.
Across the nation, the Fourth of July is a day for celebration. But amid all the parties and fireworks, many people may forget the reason behind this holiday. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper reminding people why we celebrate July 4th. What individuals and groups from our nation's history should we remember on this day?
The Statue of Liberty is a powerful symbol of our nation. The statue's significance can be described with the words engraved its base. This poem by Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus," ends with the famous words: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" As a class, discuss the meaning of this poem. Who is "speaking" these words? Who are the "huddled masses yearning to be free"? What do you think she means by the "golden door"?
Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner in 1814 after watching British ships blast Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. At sunrise, he saw a battered American flag still flying, and knew the United States has won. Read the words to the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner. Then imagine yourself in Key's shoes that morning and write a journal entry in your own words. Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" As a class, discuss the meaning of this poem. Who is "speaking" these words? Who are the "huddled masses yearning to be free"? What do you think she means by the "golden door"?