Learn about why we celebrate the 4th of July with this story.
Full sized version
Following the story, play the music and have them march to the song, "You're a Grand Old Flag" while they wave the flags.
(Prepare a pocket sized microstrip book for each tot.)
Here is a pocket sized story in black and white and color.
To make these pocket books, you will cut out the 2 row of strips and fold back and forth and staple.
Clothes pin letter bucket
You will need:
1 pkg. of clothespins 1 plastic bucket (Dollar Tree)
1 pkg mini dowels (Dollar Tree)
1 marker
Have them find the "f" and then clip it to the small dowel. Then find "l" and say f-l. Then find the a and say f-l-a as they clip it to the small dowel or stick and last find the clothespin with the letter "g". Say the word "flag" together. Then have them write on a mini magneticdoodle board the word "flag".
I stored the clothespins in Alphabetical order on the outside of the bucket. Use the other side of the clothespin for a repeat letter like the vowels and like the popular letter "s".
There are 4 lines to make a rectangle flag (practice sheet)
Have a birthday celebration for the USA and
count the 4 candles on the cake.
You could use a cup cake, small cake or a styrofoam cake. Let them frost the cake with frosting in a can and a plastic knife. Use a clean screwdriver to poke holes for the candles. Then have them shake on sprinkles.
Show them the pictures of the USA freedom symbols and then have them each color and prepare them for a symbol freedom parade.
Here is a mini microstrip coloring book
Cut the 2 strips out. Do not cut page by page.
Fold back and forth & staple for a pocket sized book.
Have them use the Pilgrim mask or cut long strips and use the masks as hats instead.
The tot will hold up their symbol picture and tell the crowd about it.
Snack: Have a red cherry pie or red raspberries, blue blue berries, topped with white whip cream for a patriotic snack.
Crafts:
Twist the ends together of the 3 pipe cleaners. Thread a bell and weave, thread a bell again and weave into a bracelet. Add as many bells as you wish.
Make a flag fan
Have the tots cut on the lines. Punch the holes at the bottom of each strip. Press the brad fastener through all the strips for a fan.
Make firework pictures with paint.
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Get large plastic quarters (Dollar Tree) or real quarters and do rubbings using white paper and quarters underneath.
You could tape a quarter underneath the paper and have each tot color over the quarter for a rubbing. The tot first to see who it is that the rubbing reveals, wins. Try putting a quarter and a nickel under the paper. When they have completed the rubbing, they can call whether it is Thomas Jefferson or George Washington on the coin. Jefferson is on the nickel.
Sew a flag
You will need yarn or string, scissors, paper punch and the cut out copy of the flag.
Let the child who is old enough punch out holes in abc order.
Let each tot sew the card around the flag. Check out the oral tradition of Betsy Ross and the 13 star design.
Make a pinwheel flag.
You will need: a straw, brad fastener and a cut out copy of a flag.
Punch each of the five holes. Punch a hole about an inch down from the top of the straw. Cut along the dotted lines. Fold back on each of the 4 corners and then push the brad through the four corners of the flag and through the straw hole. Bend the brad fasteners on the tips or ends of the brad to leave space for the wheel to turn.
Color the symbol pages.
Games: Have a 3 legged race and (or) a pie eating contest.
Darts or Skewer Balloon Bust
You will need:
A copy of the questions cut up and of the picture answers.
A skewer or dart
(12) red, white and blue balloons
screwdriver
Velcro dots
Roll the questions up and put inside of the balloons. Put a velcro dot on the foam board and then a dot on the back of each picture answer. Let the person pop a balloon for the question and then let them find the picture answer.
the "Let Freedom Ring Game"
Here is what you will need other than the hot glue and tape.
Glue the bottom side of the cup to the wooden dowel (small)
Tie the string to the bell and then to the wooden dowel.underneath the plastic cup.
Write Liberty on the red cup with permanent marker.
Have the tots try to move the stick so as to swing the jingle bell into the bell cup. When it's in,
let liberty or freedom ring by shaking the Liberty Bell cup.
Question and Answer Card Match:
Have the picture cards face down. The questions will face up. Let a person draw a question and then an answer. If it matches, then they keep the match, but if not they will turn the picture card back over.
The one with the most matches wins.
There is something for every child.
Summary: The story teaches the words beginning in "f". The numbers are 13 for 13 colonies and 4 for the 4th of July. The colors learned are red, white and blue. Find out about symbols of the USA and liberty or freedom. Learn some 4th of July trivia and best of all celebrate!
Free lesson plan
