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National Symbols, Documents
and Landmarks
by Carolyn Black
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National Symbols
National Documents
National Landmarks and Monuments
Movie
Assignment
References
Core Curriculum
National Documents
Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
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National
Documents
Declaration of Independence
Happy Birthday America
• This document was the first
step in separating the 13
colonies from the control of
Great Britain
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
Congress approved it on
July 4, 1776
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National
Documents
The Constitution
• Describes the structure of
our national government
• Describes the rights of the
American people
• Took 3 months to write in
the summer of 1787
September 17 is known
as Constitution Day
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Constitution Movie
National Symbols
The Flag
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The Bald Eagle
Liberty Bell
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National
Symbols
American Flag
• Thirteen Strips
– Represent the thirteen colonies
• Fifty Stars
– Represent the fifty states as a union
• Symbolism of Colors
– Red: valor and bravery
– White: purity and innocence
– Blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice
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National Anthem
Pledge of Allegiance
“You’re a Grand Old Flag”
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National
Symbols
Pledge of Allegiance
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Flag page
• I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the
Republic for which it stands, one
Nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
About the pledge of Allegiance
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National
Symbols
Pledge of Allegiance
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Flag page
• A promise of loyalty to the United States
• When the Pledge is said everyone must stand at
attention, facing the flag with their right hand over
their heart, unless they are in uniform.
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National
Symbols
National Anthem
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Flag page
• Words written by Francis Scott Key in 1814
• The song is about the American flag still flying after
a night of fierce battle during the War of 1812
The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight;
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
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National
Symbols
The Liberty Bell
• Symbol of freedom
• Was rung when the Declaration
of Independence was signed
• Made of copper and tin
• Weighs 2,000 pounds
• The bell cracked shortly after
arriving in the U.S.
What is written on the bell?
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Click on the bell to hear
what the cracked bell
sounds like
Click on the bell to hear
what the bell sounded
like without a crack
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National
Symbols
Leviticus 25:10
“Proclaim liberty
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Liberty Bell
throughout all the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
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National
Symbols
The Bald Eagle
• Animal unique to U.S.
• Symbolizes strength,
courage, and freedom
• Look for the image of the
Bald Eagle on government
seals, the President’s flag
and on one-dollar bills.
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National Landmarks and Monuments
The Statue of Liberty
Washington Monument
U.S. Capitol
Lincoln Memorial
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Independence Hall
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Landmarks and
Monuments
Washington Monument
Located in Washington D.C.
• Four sided stone structure –
one of the tallest in the world
• Honors George Washington
the “Father of our Country”
• Fifty flags surround the base
Reflecting Pool
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Landmarks and
Monuments
The Reflecting Pool
• Located on the National
Mall between the
Washington Monument
and the Lincoln Memorial
• Holds 7 million gallons of
water!
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Monument
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Landmarks and
Monuments
Lincoln Memorial
Located in Washington D.C.
• Honors Abraham Lincoln –
President of the United
States during the Civil War
• 19 feet tall
• Weighs 175 tons
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Landmarks and
Monuments
Independence Hall
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• The Constitution was
written and signed here
• Home of the Liberty Bell
for 200 years
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Landmarks and
Monuments
The Statue of Liberty
Located in New York Harbor
• Symbolizes freedom throughout
the world
• Given as a gift of friendship
from the people of France
• Her torch represents liberty
• The tablet in her left hand is
inscribed with July 4, 1776 in
Roman numerals
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Landmarks and
Monuments
U.S. Capitol
Located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
• Home to the House of
Representatives and the
Senate since 1800
• Statue of a woman on top
represents freedom
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Assignment
• Review the following websites and activities
– Flag activity (Be patient, it takes a few minutes to load)
– The Star Spangled Banner website
– Symbols of U.S. Government (follow the link to the PDF
for more information)
• Make a Glogster using 5 facts you learned about the
flag. Include at least one picture in your Glogster.
– Fact example: The color red in the flag stands for bravery.
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Second Grade Social Studies
Standard 2
(Citizenship): Students will recognize and practice civic responsibility
in the community, state, and nation.
Objective 3
Investigate and show how communities, state, and nation are united
by symbols that represent citizenship in our nation.
Indicator C
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Identify and explain the significance of various national
symbols, documents, and landmarks
References
U.S. Government Printing Office. Superintendent of Documents. “Ben’s Guide (K-2):
Symbols of U.S. Government.” Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.
January 12, 2000. <http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/symbols/index.html>
(June 18, 2011).
U.S. Government Printing Office. Superintendent of Documents. “Ben’s Guide (3-5):
Symbols of U.S. Government.” Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.
July 16, 2009. <http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html>
(June 18, 2011).
U.S. Government Printing Office. Superintendent of Documents. “Ben’s Guide (3-5):
Historical Documents.” Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.
May 7, 2001. <http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/documents/index.html>
(June 18, 2011).
You’re a grand old flag. July 21, 2010. Retrieved from
http://wpumusictech.wikispaces.com/Documents+for+Class using
Creative Commons (June 17, 2011).
Music and pictures are from Microsoft Office PowerPoint, soundzabound, uen, and
Table of the sources listed above. Movie retrieved from YouTube using Zamzar.com.
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