Symbols of the US

We are studying symbols of the US again. We've learned about the flag, the Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty so far. We did a fun art project to go with the flag.

I designed these USA flags. It is the letters USA in block form with flags drawn in one corner and then stripes. Students then painted them to look like our American flag. I think they look great. I hope that my students gain a greater understanding of each of the patriotic symbols we study, and I hope they recognize how fortunate we are to live in this great land of freedom. I hope they will become respectful, responsible citizens of our country.

We read a lot of books about each patriotic symbol, and I create a web to record some of what we learn. Then each student writes one or two paragraphs about the symbol. These are all in a packet together, so at the end of the unit they will have a page about each symbol. I love studying about our nation!

Fascinating Fact Friday

I've been back to school for three days. It is going to be another great year!

Here is our next Fascinating Fact. Do you know what the tallest statue in the US is? Probably you do...the Statue of Liberty. But do you know what the second tallest statue in the US is?

This is "Our Lady of the Rockies". It is 90 feet tall. (The Statue of Liberty is 151 ft. from the base to the torch. If you include the pedestal and foundation, it is 305 ft. tall) This statue, "Our Lady of the Rockies" overlooks Butte, Montana. It is dedicated to all women, especially mothers. It was built by volunteers. They began building the statue in 1979, and it was completed in 1985. My family saw it this summer while on a trip to Canada. It is quite beautiful.

What new facts have you learned this week? Share them in the comments!

Landmarks and Symbols of the US

We have been studying symbols of the United States, along with a few important landmarks.

Here's just a taste of what we've learned about:

The Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem, was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, during the War of 1812. He wrote it while on a British boat, watching to see whether the British would overtake the Fort or whether the US would win that battle. He was overjoyed to see the flag still waving the next morning and to know the US had won the battle.


Our flag is made of 13 red and white stripes. These represent the 13 original colonies. The fifty stars represent the 50 states. We also talked a little bit about how to care for the flag and that it reminds us of the freedoms we enjoy.

The pledge was originally written by Francis Bellamy to celebrate Columbus Day. Several changes have been made to the original pledge (the original pledge said: I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.) The pledge is a promise to stay true to our country. We talked about how to say the pledge correctly.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights are an important document that explains the government. They give laws and explain who has power within the government. They also explain the rights that we have as citizens.


The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is a symbol of freedom. In the past it was used to announce important meetings and also to help bring the North and South back together again after the Civil War.

The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is our national bird. It isn't really bald, but because most of its feathers are black and its head is white, it looks bald from a distance. The bald eagle was chosen as our national bird because it is strong, lives a long time and looks so regal. It reminds us of the strength of our nation.

Some of the landmarks we have learned about are:

The Statue of Liberty: a gift to the US from France



US Capitol in Washington D.C.: This is where the Senate and House of Representatives meet to make the laws for our nation.


The White House: This is where the President lives.



The Lincoln Monument: A beautiful monument created to remember our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, and his Emancipation Proclamation which ended slavery. He was the President during the Civil War.


Washington Monument: To remember our first President, George Washington.


Mount Rushmore: Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Four of our presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) are carved into the mountain.



The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. It was the largest when it was built in 1937. It is a beautiful bridge and a symbol of San Francisco and the US.



Take this quiz about Landmarks

Check out this tour of Famous US Landmarks.