Integrating Holidays: Independence Day

The kids are getting older and each year, finding activities to help them connect the meaning of the 4th with fun has been a challenge. But there have been great resources.

4th of July is a time of BBQ's, family time, friends, and fireworks. But while you are outside playing, get the kids moving in a USA scavenger hunt or guess game of the founding fathers. A favorite site I go to is I mom.

While it is an education site for lesson plans, this page has activities that have kids focus on the three freedom documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. There are also activities that involve students in creating time lines and posters.

America's Freedom Documents

To go along with learning about the documents, i mom has a document you can create with your family.

Two summers ago, we learned about our Founding Fathers with these cards: (you can find more here Founding Father cards)

We also did a savenger hunt with the cards from the I mom website as well.

This has been a wonderful site full of positive activities not just for the Fouth, but for each day. Enjoy and Happy Independence Day!!

Integrating Holidays: Fourth of July

Explaining what the 4th of July is to a 2 1/2 year old is quite interesting.

Upon seeing the bags of decoratins, plates, etc. the conversation goes something like this:
Toddler (T): We are going to have my birthday party.
Mom (M): No, honey , we are going to have a party for America.
T: Yeah! It's 'merica's birthday. Where does 'merica live?
M: We live in America, the United States of America. We celebrate where we live because we have freedom.
T: (Looking up in deep, deep thought). Where is she? I want to see America.
M: Well......forget it honey, let me find a book about the 4th of July and America's birthday.

What a concept that we take for granted. We know what it means to be free, what liberties we have, and how far our country has come. This year, let's not forget the little ones who are still trying to grasp this concept.

A new website I love that sends weekly updates each Sunday with activities is imom.com. This week, it was chuck full of actvities for the Fourth. Check out the objective this week: Operation Red, white, and blue

A few books that you can order or find at your library to read each night to your children are:




I also have one in Spanish to read called: Celebra el cuarto de julio by Alma Flor Ada and F.Isabel Campoy. Reading in a different language to children helps their comprehension and you can ask questions like:
What do you think the book is about?
What do you think they are talking about on this page? How do you know?
By using pictoral cues, children are still reading and using a higher level of thinking.
For the babies, a book I found is:


Of course, you can always google some activities to play in your backyard, but some activites that I am personally using for our party on Sunday game from Disney's family fun website. We will be playing the flag tag relay.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!