In anticipation of the Fourth of July have your preschoolers create a wall mural of flags and fireworks. Ask the preschoolers to draw the flag on a large piece of white paper about 6 feet by 4 feet. This would be a joint project as one group colors in the red strips of the flag, the other the blue corner and the last group the stars. For the fireworks, you will need a box of paper cupcake liners, markers, glitter and scissors. Decorate cupcake liners with the markers and glitter. Fold each liner in half two times and cut slits on the fold, stopping before the center, or bottom of the liner leaving it in one piece. Glue the "fireworks" sporadically around and on top of the flag mural they created. Hang in the classroom, hallway or gymnasium for all to enjoy.
Contact local community colleges to see if they are having any special events in honor of the Fourth of July. College clubs, such as The Veterans Club, often have patriotic events that are thrilling for students to watch. The local library may have a special display and a story time about the Fourth of July that you can take your preschoolers. Your local museum may have free days for students and a Fourth of July display as well.
Designate a day for a class party celebrating the Fourth of July. Have students make invitations to invite their family or guardians and any non-teaching staff. In preparation, divide the tasks into stations such as decorations, food preparation, costumes, and music. The food station could include ingredients to make red, white and blue marshmallow treats, while the decorations corner could have red, white and blue paints and pre-cut cardboard pieces to paint as a flags. Red, white and blue construction paper and rolls of crepe paper combined together can make endless variations of hats to wear. For the music you could have a CD with patriotic songs for preschoolers to learn and perform.
Contact your local parks and recreation department and ask about reserving a pavilion for the day. Consider collaborating with other preschools. Organize a Fourth of July celebration that includes organized games and play stations. Have red, white and blue paint supplies and cover all the picnic tables with white paper that the preschoolers can paint and decorate before the picnic lunch.
Contact your local Veterans Club to see if they offer any services such as visiting speakers who could come and tell the children stories in their uniforms. The local library may have a volunteer story reader who can come to your picnic to read to the children.