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How to Teach Young Children About the Symbols of America

American children see American symbols in classrooms, museums, shopping centers, worship centers, banks and homes. These symbols grace postcards, money, books, television shows and more. Although older children might understand the significance of the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, for instance, younger children have to be taught about American symbols. Young children will enjoy learning about the American flag and American bald eagle.

Things You'll Need

  • American picture book(s)
  • White paper
  • Dark blue paper
  • Red paper
  • White star stickers
  • Money
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Glue
  • Scissors
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Instructions

  1. American Symbols

    • 1

      Select one or two colorful and informative picture books about America or American symbols to read. Show the pictures, and point to the American symbols in the books while reading them to the children.

    • 2

      Let them make their own American flags. Give each child an 8.5-inch-by-11-inch sheet of white paper. Turn it horizontally on their desks. Give each child a blue rectangle to glue in the upper-left corner of the white sheet of paper. Give them star stickers to place on the blue paper. Point to an American map, and explain that the stars represent the 50 American states.

    • 3

      Give the children seven red strips of paper of equal width to glue onto their white sheet of paper. Place the first red strip at the top of the white paper and next to the blue square. Place another red strip at the bottom of the white paper. Space the other red strips on the white paper so the six white stripes are formed on their flags. Explain that the stripes represent the original 13 colonies. Briefly discuss or name them.

    • 4

      Give children coins, bills and magnifying glasses. Tell the children to look for eagles on the front and back of the money. The children may need to use magnifying glasses to find the eagles on the bills. Some coins will not have eagles, but some will. Choose children to point out to the class where the eagle is located on their money, such as on the back of a quarter and a dollar bill. Ask the children to tell you anything they know about the American bald eagle. Tell them facts about the bird and what it represents for America.

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