How to Teach Children About the Fourth of July

Children enjoy learning about the tradition behind holiday celebrations. Here are some fun ways to teach kids about the history behind the fireworks, parades and other Independence Day festivities.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Declaration Of Independence
• Movies
• American Flags
• Flower Bouquets
• Patriotic CDs
• Movies
• red, white & blue clothes

1. Listen to patriotic music. Sing along with your child and explain the meaning of each song.

2. Go to the library and find children's books about heroes who fought for U.S. independence, or heroines such as Betsy Ross.

3. Rent a movie about an American hero or heroine.

4. Attend a Fourth of July parade and talk about the significance of each entry.

5. Obtain a copy of the Declaration of Independence and explain what it means in child's terms.

6. Go to an Independence Day concert and discuss the music.

7. Watch a public fireworks display and explain what the celebration means.

8. Wear red, white and blue and compare it to the colors of the American flag. Talk about what the colors represent.

9. Display a flag on your property and explain the flag's meaning.

10. Tell the story behind "The Star-Spangled Banner."

11. Visit a cemetery and put flags or flowers on the graves of soldiers. Talk about their sacrifice.

Tips & Warnings

• Usually children do not need a complicated history lesson to grasp a concept.

[chefofhearts]

on 6/29/2009 I echo what ecm1980 wrote.

5*****

[kint200]

on 6/20/2009 here is a very informative article on the history of Fireworks: http://dominatorfireworks.com/fireworks-history.html

[ecm1980]

on 5/2/2009 I really like the last one, about going to the cemetary and putting flowers down at the graves. Very good idea that will really get the point across.