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.
