I hope you had a fantastic Fourth of July! We had a great time celebrating my mom's "Summer Magic" unit: "This is My Country!" Each year, during the week of the 4th, we celebrate this tradition- a week filled with patriotic field trips, food, and fun! Here's what's on the list for our "This is My Country" week. . .
1. A Visit to
Your State Capitol Building
When was the last time your took a tour of your state's capitol? I had never been to the one where we now live, so it was really fun to make the opportunity to go this last week. My son and I had a blast visiting the Museum inside our Capital Building and wandering around the monuments and other edifices at our Capitol Mall. I feel like I learned so much and it was a great way to celebrate our Country!
They even had fun interactive activities for kids!
There were memorials to each of the wars our state has fought in and even a monument to the Bill of Rights. A perfect way to celebrate our Independence!
2. Have an "All- American" Fried Chicken Picnic
We would always take our fried chicken with us to the Capital Building and then have a picnic outside on the grass when we got there. And we would always get our chicken at KFC because each meal comes in a red and white box - perfectly patriotic and also convenient for a picnic. :) This year, because its hotter than Hades where we live, we grabbed our little KFC box lunches on the way home and had an indoor picnic instead!
3. Learn about Patriotism and America
Read books, review history and learn facts about the USA! Here's just a few ideas:
1. Teach your kids The Pledge of Allegiance or the words to The Star Spangled Banner (if they don't know them already).
2. Teach your kids our National Symbols:
National Bird: Bald Eagle
National Flower: Rose
National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
National Capital: Washington D.C.
National Motto: In God We Trust
3. Learn where our Nation's capital is on a map.
4. Learn about Betsy Ross and our Flag- When did our flag come about?; What do the colors represent? The Stars? The stripes?; Just who is Betsy Ross?
5. Review how our nation came to be- Talk about the 13 Colonies and the Revolutionary War.
6. Teach your kids what The Constitution is and the 3 things it does:
- defines and limits the power of the national government,
- defines the relationship between the national government and individual state governments,
-guarantees the rights of the citizens of the United States.
7. Learn what the three branches of government are.
Here is a great website for kids K-12 (divided for each age group) to learn more about the our Nation and its history and government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/!
8. Learn about The Declaration of Independence. Who were its authors? What are its 5 sections? When was its signed? Visit http://www.congressforkids.net/index.htm for help in teaching this to your kiddos.
. . .
Now, how well do you know the history of your Country? It might be surprising, sometimes frightening, how little Americans remember from our US history classes. I've had the opportunity to travel abroad quite a bit and I realized that what is even more frightening is how much more people from other countries know about our history and current politics! We just don't take patriotism or our freedom seriously enough, I think.
So why not use the 4th of July to brush up on our facts. I found an online quiz (link below) that lists things every American citizen should know. I was dismayed by how poorly I did!
Take the quiz yourself, or choose just a few of the facts to learn with your kids. Or for a fun 4th of July party activity, see how many of your guests can answer these questions and give a small prize to the winner!
4. Pay Tribute to the Statue of Liberty
Each Fourth of July growing up we would talk about the Statue of Liberty. We'd learn about its history, its size, its symbolism, and my mom would always read to us the inscription that is on its base. We'd talk about its meaning- about freedom, about what it means to be an American.
"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-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Here is a link to an insightful children's article that tells all about the Statue of Liberty and the history behind these words inscribed at its base:
(from The Friend children's magazine)
The inscription, originally a sonnet entitled "The New Colossus" (written in 1883 by the American poet Emma Lazarus), has since been put to music. After our discussion, my mom would play the song on the piano and we would sing the words.
If you are unfamiliar with this song, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir does a gorgeous rendition of it.
4. Sing Patriotic Songs
"The Ride of Paul Revere," by Paul Colwell
"God Bless the U.S.A.," by Lee Greenwood
"You're a Grand Old Flag," George Cohan
"This Land is Your Land," by Woody Guthrie
"Take Your Hat Off: A Child's Musical Introduction to the Constitution," by Janeen Brady
5. Make Patriotic Crafts
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| Popsicle Stick Flags |
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| at notimeforflashcards.com |
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| Tissue Paper Flags |
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| at blog.rightstart.com |
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| Mosaic Flags |
6. Have a Red, White, and Blue-berry Pancake Breakfast
On the morning of the Fourth I always like to have Red, White and Blueberry Pancakes! A lot of people have neighborhood or church breakfasts which are always fun, but sometimes I like the option of sleeping in and having our own relaxing breakfast at home- free from the chaos and cold pancakes of the bigger social functions.
I'll even give you the recipe for my homemade Blueberry Pancakes!
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp Sugar or Honey
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
Combine. Add:
1 Cup Milk
1 tbsp. coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
1 1/2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix until just incorporated. Batter will still be lumpy. Set aside to rest.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet. Melt 2 tbsp. butter on the skillet. Pour melted butter into batter and mix until just incorporated.
Add 1 large handful or about 3/4 cup fresh blueberries into batter. Gently fold into batter.
Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter for each pancake onto skillet. Re-grease skillet with a little butter as needed. Serve with warm strawberry syrup.
7. Make Red, White and Blue Treats
I got the idea for these skewers from the website Toddler Approved and thought they were cute. Ironically my little boy only ate the fruit and smashed the marshmallows into the floor, but what gives right?
Layer Red Jell-o, Cool Whip, and Blue Jello.
from Parents Magazine
from Tasteandtellblog.com
Trifle from Skinnytaste.com
Sparkling Punch from Woman's Day
8. Have a Patrioic BBQ and 4th of July Floats
Here's a look at my Patriotic BBQ this year.
My family loves cream cheese topped with salsa. Try it if you never have- its a weird combo but gooood! I served mine with blue corn chips :)
For Fourth of July Floats, pour red soda (Raspberry Shasta works great) over ice-cream. Yum!
9. Decorate your Bikes and Have a Bike Parade
When we were little we always decorated our bikes for the 4th of July with streamers, flags, you name it! It was so fun! Then, we would get together with all of the neighborhood kids and have a bike parade!
10. Go to a Real Parade
So many of you do this, but it really is such a fun tradition! My family has always gone up to a little town just north of us for their annual parade and Rodeo- and I gotta tell you, there is nothing like a small town, country Fourth of July!
and of course,
11. Watch Fireworks
I hope you all had a great time celebrating our Independence in your own fashion, and that whatever you did, you left your kids pumped with patriotic pride and saying,
"This is my Country!
- Annie
P.S. Check back soon!
More "Summer Magic" is just around the bend!
P.P.S. I also just realized that all of my super cute fonts that I use on my posts don't show up on other people's computers :( So just know that my posts look way cuter on my computer ha ha. I wish there was a way to troubleshoot this??
