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4th Of July

4th of July Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources

Introduction:

Independence Day commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring U.S. independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. – Wikipedia

Lesson Plans:

• This is a patriotic collage and stained glass idea for the flag waving holidays (P-K)
• Preschoolers press their hands and feet into service for this flag activity (P-1)
• Here’s a song for Flag Day, 4th of July, or other patriotic times (P-2)
• Make “Fireworks Art” on construction paper with this idea (P)
• Here is a tremendous flag footprint idea (P)
• Use this flag cake idea to celebrate patriotic holidays and science (P)
• Kindergarteners use crumpling skills to create a flag decoration in this lesson (K)
• This is a great lesson on the American flag and its symbols (K-2)
• Here student art illustrates a patriotic song in a holiday slide show program (K-8)
• If your school hasn’t made a flag on the fence with paper cups yet, try this idea! (K-12)

• Students make a simulated fireworks display here (1-2)
• This is an excellent lesson on national symbols unique to our country (1-2)
• Here a handprint American flag is created on a sheet (1-5)
• Here’s a suggestion for a template declaring a student’s independence from fill-in-the-blank (2)
• This Independence Day lesson idea yields student art work for a time capsule (2)
• Here is a jigsaw puzzle game for memorizing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and other songs (2-4)
• This idea involves making song “puzzles” out of the words from patriotic songs (2-6)
• Here’s a great lesson plan on “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the history of our flag (2-10)
• If you want to cause a Revolutionary War in your classroom, try this candy tax lesson (3-5)
• This American government lesson looks at the Declaration of Independence and more (3-6)

• This physics lesson involves making ice cream – perfect for summer celebrations! (3-11)
• To complete this lesson, students create a diorama depicting a cause or effect of the American Revolution (4)
• This web hunt shows students why and how we celebrate Independence Day (4-5)
• “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful” are compared in this lesson (5)
• Here is a lesson explaining the meaning of the words in “The Pledge of Allegiance” (5)
• This TV newscast lesson will bring the American Revolution, and your students, to life or at least to tape (5-7)
• This lesson idea focuses on what it means to be an American (7-12)
• These “America” poems show how gender and race influence a poet’s viewpoint (10-11)
• Create artful fireworks with a little paint, glitter, and a plastic hammer here (MO)

• If you have 4th Of July lesson plans to share, please add them to our site!

Video and other Media Resources:

• Uncover the history of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the 4th of July and the way we celebrate it today in these History.com videos
• Here Barack Obama speaks about patriotism and Independence Day in Independence, MO
• Download School House Rock Independence Day and American Revolution videos here
• Sam the Eagle leads this humorous Muppet musical salute to America
• PBS invites you to watch highlights of their Capitol Fourth Concerts here
• Create your own fireworks, complete with music, at this PBS site
• This craft video shows how to make an easy Uncle Sam hat for a 4th of July parade
• Treat you kids to this patriotic sing-along from NIEHS
• Let author Kenneth Davis quiz your kids about Independence Day history with this “CBS Morning Show” video

Additional Resources:

• Start your Independence Day studies with the U.S. government for fun facts, historical documents, patriotic songs, recipes, and safety tips
• This super-extensive Independence Day Database was researched and compiled by James R. Heintze at Washington’s American University
• Find cool interactive activities at PBS’s “A Capitol Fourth” including “History of the Fourth”, “Patriotic Reflections,” and especially “Fireworks and Fun”
• History.com offers a 4th of July Minisite with a video gallery and the history behind the holiday
• Here is a red, white and blue science lesson plan on density from BrightHub
• These are patriotic themed math worksheets Kidzone
• Go to eHow for more 4th of July projects for kids