Social Studies Lesson

1. Social Studies Lesson By Heather Kirchner Ed 417

2. National Symbols Third Grade

3. Objectives: The third grade students will be able to do the following: • Vocabulary words are defined and spelled correctly. • Team members contribute two examples of symbols to the brainstorm activity. • Correctly answer the five questions. • The Independence Day presentation shows clear understanding of the meaning of symbols. • 5. Pass the quiz about American symbols with an 80% or better.

4. Materials Needed: • Pictures of American Flags or flags • Star Spangled Banner (audio and lyrics) • Calendar with national holidays • Pictures of national monuments • Art supplies • Audio recorder • Dictionaries • Encyclopedias • Resource books • Computer

5. Web Sites: • http://www.icss.com/usflag/ • http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~etowner/anthem.html • 3. http://www.allstates-flag.com/flags/gb.html • http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/july4/why.html • http://homeschooling.about.com/education/homescho0oling/library/bljul4a3.htm • http://milkman.cac.psu.edu/~cooper/TourOfDC/monuments/washington-monument.html

6. Activity #1:Vocabulary List Activity #2: Group Time/Brainstorm Flag Group Anthem Group Holiday Group Monument Group Activity #3: American Flags Activity #4: National Anthem Activity #5: National Holidays Activity #6: National Monuments

7. Activity #1: Vocabulary List independent celebrate original statue colonies monument symbols current

8. Vocabulary: Please define the words that are given to you. These words will be your spelling words also.

9. Activity #2 Group Time/Brainstorming: Brainstorm all the things which you might think are symbols. Remember: Symbols can be anything which remind you of a group. Any group who share an identity usually have their own symbols.

10. Symbols could be: Countries Schools Cities or towns Businesses Religious groups Sports teams

11. Remember: symbols can be songs, places, traditions, logos/pictures, or holidays. As you brainstorm, think of these questions. What things make me think about America? What songs make me feel American? What places remind me of America?

12. Activity #3: American Flags The flag has 13 stripes: Seven are red and six are white. They represent the 13 original colonies that made up the United States. There is also 50 white stars on a blue background. They represent the 50 states that make up the United States. The first flag was designed in 1777 and has changed many times since then.

13. Class Flag: Design our class flag: What would you like our class flag to look like? What are some symbols you would put on the flag? What colors are you going to use? What pictures might you put on it?

14. Activity #4: National Anthem Just like the American flag reminds us of America and being American, songs can do the same thing. Some songs officially represent the country by law and these are called anthems. Other patriotic songs are not official but still remind people of a country.

15. Our National Anthem By Francis Scott Key “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, thro’ 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. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

16. National Anthem: What is the name of our national anthem? Who wrote our national anthem? What does the song remind you of? What story does the song tell? Why do you think this song is so special to us?

17. You need to create an anthem or a patriotic song. As a group, think of a story you might want your song to tell. What kinds of instruments will you use? Think of a simple tune that everyone knows.

18. Activity #5: National Holidays Holidays are symbols too. Besides no school, holidays are important ways we remember something special. Holidays usually mark something which happened on that very same day in history.

19. National Holidays Can you think of a day which is important to you? What day do we celebrate America’s Birthday? Can you name another American holiday? Why is that holiday important to America? What are some things we do to celebrate holidays?

20. Pick your own Holiday What day will it be on? What is the name of your holiday? How will you celebrate your holiday? Will you have a parade, picnic or something else? What kinds of things will people do to celebrate? What should everyone wear?

21. Activity #6: National Monuments Have you ever seen a statue and thought to yourself, who was this person? Why do people make statues? Have you ever been to a famous building, place, or a wall with lots of names on it? Why are those monuments important?

22. National Monuments The Statue of Liberty is located in New York and it symbolizes freedom. It was a gift from France. She holds a torch which represents liberty.

23. National Monuments The White House is the home of the president of the United States. Every president except for George Washington has lived there. This is where the president does most of his business. He signs bills, and meets with his staff and visitors.

24. Create your own monument Think about what you want your monument to be. You can either build something or draw a picture. You may use clay, play dough, Popsicle sticks, or anything else you can think of. Use your Imagination!!!!

25. THE END!!!!!