| Volume 5, Issue 13
August 13, 2007
A WORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE'S THEME
Hip, hip hooray for the USA!
We're proud of it, it's true.
Hip, hip hooray for the USA
And flag-red, white, and blue.
Anytime is the perfect time to teach children to value the country they live in and their way of life. We hope you'll use our activities and suggestions to reinforce a lesson on citizenship, instilling in your children a sense of pride in being part of the USA!
Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
ACTIVITY IDEAS
 SUPER SYMBOLS
On the left and right side of an index card place identical stickers of U.S. symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, a U.S. flag, and others. (If you do not have stickers, you can copy and paste some of the symbols from Symbols of the U.S.A. or Flag Day Coloring Pages.) Cut each index card in half with a zig-zag line. Mix up the pieces and let children find the two symbols that match and line up the halves of the card.
TOSS IT!
Obtain a cardboard box. Cut it so that you can lay it flat. Next cut 2 large star shapes out of the cardboard. Paint the cardboard red, white, and blue. Invite children to take turns trying to throw a bean bag through the star cutouts.
SEEING STARS
Cut out star shapes from construction paper and laminate them. Staple a piece of yarn to each star. Tell children you will hide a star for them to find. Hide a star, and leave a piece of the yarn showing. Set children off to find it. The first person to find the star gets to hide it next.
SOCK IT TO ME!
Obtain for each child a cylindrical cardboard oatmeal box. Cut out the box bottom. Help children cover the box with blue construction. Children can then glue onto the blue paper precut white stars. Staple red and white crepe streamers to one end of the box. Punch two holes opposite each one another at the other end of the box. Insert a piece of string between the two holes leaving enough string to hang your windsock.
OLD GLORY CUPCAKES
Make cupcakes using a box cake mix. Give each child a cupcake to decorate. Ice each cupcake with canned white frosting. Give each child strips of red fruit leather (also call fruit strips) and 6 to 9 blueberries. Have children arrange their blueberries in rows of three on an upper left hand corner of a cupcake. Children can then place strips of red fruit leather across each cupcake horizontally, next to and under the blueberries for a flag design. Enjoy!
ON THE WEB
Check out the following Web sites for additional background and activities.
U.S.A. and State Flags
Get lots of patriotic printouts and craft ideas here.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/flags/
U.S. State Flag Clip Art
Print out your state flag. You'll find it here.
http://historyimages.com/flag/state/clipart.html
"Using a Map" Teaching Theme
If you need a simple U.S. map, here it is.
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/states/usa/
4th of July Songs
Your children will love singing along to these simple songs.
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/holiday_themes/fourth_of_july_songs.html
Patriotic Teddy Bear Craft
Learn about the origins of the teddy bear and help your children make this cute patriotic craft.
http://www.first-school.ws/activities/crafts/animals/wild/bear_usa.htm
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