Fourth of July Hat Ring
Construction paper
Lightweight cardboard
Glue or stapler
pipe cleaners
scissors
Cut a strip of lightweight cardboard about 2 inches wide and long enough to go around your child's head and overlap a little. Glue or staple the ends together. Glue flags around your head band. To make your flags, cut a piece of red construction paper about 1-1/2 by 2 inches. Cut a small square from blue construction paper and glue it in the top left corner of the red paper piece. Use white paper for the flag's stars and stripes. Glue each flag to one end of a pipe cleaner. Fasten the other end of each pipe cleaner to the hat. To finish your hat, cut and glue large red and blue paper stars all around it and add a little glitter!
Creating the First Flag
Betsy Ross received the following directions for making the first flag:
"RESOLVED, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
Within these guidelines, she was free to design the flag as she wished. She chose the size of the stripes, the arrangement of the stars, and the overall proportions of the flag.
Explore various other flag designs that would satisfy the guidelines established by Congress. Select your favorite design, and create it from construction paper.
Patriotic Collage
Give child(ren) red, white, and blue construction papers; scissors; and glue. Star stickers; red, white and blue paints; and glitters may be provided, if desired. Let imaginations have free reign! Tell students to assemble materials into an original patriotic wall hanging. They may want to create banners based on a stars-and-stripes theme. They may want to tear paper into small pieces, then assemble into the shape of a patriotic symbol (flag, eagle, Statue of Liberty, etc.) They may want to crate an abstrat design--anything goes!
Stars and Stripes
From a sponge, cut out star shapes. Cut another rectangular sponge into 1" strips.
Provide children with blue and red paint as well as white paper. Show them pictures of American flags from the original design representing the thirteen colonies to today's design. Let them use sponges to re-create various flag designs. (You might wish to assign each child a different flag, then allow children to practice placing them in chronological order once dry.)
After flags have been created, encourage children to create other designs using the stars and stripes.
Note: If working with young children, you might pour a very thin layer of paint into a styrofoam tray. This helps limit the amount of paint children get on the sponge and also reduces the danger of spills.
A Family Flag
Ask children to look at the American flag and name the colors it contains. Explain that each color used in a flag has a special meaning. In the American flag, for instance, the blue stands for justice, the white stands for purity, and the red stands for courage.
Not only the colors but also the symbols on the flag are significant. The original flag bore thirteen stars and thirteen stripes--one for each of the colonies. Today the American flag proudly displays fifty stars, one for each state in the union. The thirteen stripes remain unchanged, reminding America of its beginning as thirteen colonies.
Ask children to think of items that have special significance to them or their family. Direct them to create a family flag, using only the most important of these symbols. You might also share the meanings of the following colors commonly used on flags so that children can choose appropriate colors for their designs.
blue: justice, piety, sincerity
black: grief, sorrow
green: hope
orange: strength, endurance
purple: high rank
red courage: valor
red-purple: sacrifice
silver or white: faith, purity
yellow or gold: honor, loyalty
Patriotic Pot
Small terra cotta flower pot
acrylic paints in patriotic colors
Small piece of Styrofoam
Flags on sticks
Spanish moss
Stick-on stars
Brush off your pot to make sure it doesn't have any dirt or dust on it. Paint the pots any way desired (we put red, white and blue stripes on the bottom)and then stick the stars on the rim.
Place the Styrofoam in the bottom of the decorated flower pot. Place the flags into the Styrofoam. Using the Spanish moss cover the base of the sticks so that the Styrofoam is covered.
Fire Cracker Surprise
toilet paper tube
red, white and blue crepe paper
ribbon or twine
candy or small toy
Use a toilet paper tube and fill it with candy or little toys. Roll it in a strip of crêpe, about twice the width of the tube, and cinch both ends with some ribbon or twine. (You can also buy kits that include the snappers if you want them to pop).
NOTE: These would make easy favors for parties
Star Cookie Cutters:
Gather a few star-shaped cookie cutters and shallow bowls of red and blue tempera paint. Allow each child to have a turn pressing the cookie cutters into the paint, then onto a piece of construction paper to make star shaped prints.
Patriotic Bead Patterning: Gather several packages of red, white, and blue beads and white pipe cleaners. Make a few example patterns with the beads on the pipe cleaners. Set the remaining beads and pipe cleaners on a table and allow the children to copy any of the patterns on their own pipe cleaners.
Fireworks Art
Give each child a white piece of construction paper and a straw. Explain that you will be dropping a few drops of tempera paint(diluted red and blue) on their papers. Once the paint is on the paper, they are to blow the paint around with the straw to look like fireworks.
Stars and Stripes Sandwich Bag Stars
Gather several star shapes from red, white or blue construction paper. Also gather ribbons, glitter,sequins, aluminum foil or stickers in the same colors,along with one plastic sandwich bag for each child in the class. Allow the children to place items in the bags sparingly and evenly.(the bag should be flat on a table) Place the bag between two pieces of foil with a towel between the foil and the table and iron with a warm iron. Peel away the foil, and when the bags are cool,allow children to trim to star shapes.
Firecrackers
Decorate toilet paper rolls with construction paper, stars, and crepe paper streamers.
Uncle Sam Hats
Cut top hat shape out of white, glue two red strips to the front, put small blue band of construction paper where a hat band would be, and decorate hat band with white stars. Attach hat to sentance strip and staple shut.
Hats off to the USA
Have the letters US and a cut out of red white and blue paper. Have children take turns tossing their hats saying "hats off to the USA" and trying to land on the letters.
Child's American Flag
1 piece each of red, white and blue construction paper
gold star stickers
glue and brushes, or glue stick
Sample flag, or a picture of an American Flag
Show the sample flag so the children know what to expect. Have child tear or cut the red paper into strips and glue onto white paper. Then have child cut or tear the blue piece and place onto top corner. Then have the child place the stickers onto the blue piece.
Party Hats
Make each child a newspaper party hat. Provide paper feathers, real feathers, and other collage items to glue on hats. Have a Forth of July parade.
Pinata
We bought a 4th of july pinata and filled it with blue red and white candies and the kids just loved it!
Kiddie Gift Bags
we buy small kid tumbler glasses ( plastic) and I fill with goodies like Bubbles, pencils, crayons, erasers, stickers, rings, bracelets and candy. Take cellophane and wrap cup and then tie a ribbon around the gather of cellophane.
Independence Day Bells
Give each child a paper cup and sheet of tinfoil and have them "wrap" the cup creating a silver bell.Help children poke popsicle sticks through top of "bell", securing popsicle stick with tape. Let each child thread a short piece of string/yarn through a bead or washer and tie to inside portion of popsicle stick.Have children decorate bells as desired.
Independence Day Serenity Bottles
Have each child bring in a clean, clear 1 liter soft drink bottle. Assist them in pouring in some clear corn syrup, about one third full. Add some red, white and blue confetti and glitter, seal the lid on securely with rubber cement or hot glue. Add some red, white and blue curly ribbon streamers and watch the children be mesmerized watching the syrup mixture go back and forth in the bottle.
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES
Have the children make "4th of July Firecrackers" by painting a toilet paper tube red, white, or blue. After paint has dried, glue red, white and blue crepe paper streamer to tube. For a variation, you could also close off one end and fill with rice and then close off to make a noise shaker. After ends are glued shut, then glue on streamers. Children can stick on stars. During music and movement, play a variety of patriotic songs such as Yankee Doodle, Stars and Stripes Forever, You're a Grand Old Flag, etc. and let the children march.
Traditional Songs
Star Spangled Banner
Yankee Doodle
America the Beautiful
March to "The Marine Corps Hymn"
AT THE FIREWORK SHOW
Sung to "London Bridge"
All together here we go
here we go,here we go,
All together here we go,
to the fireworks show.
I like fireworks, don't you know,
Don't you know,don't you know,
I like fireworks don't you know,
At the fireworks show.
They make such a pretty sight,
pretty sight,pretty sight,
they make such a pretty sight.
WOW! The fireworks show.
ON INDEP. DAY
Sung to "Mary had a little Lamb
Fireworks go snap,snap,snap!Crack,crack,crack!Zap,zap,zap!
Fireworks make me clap,clap,clap
On Independence Day!
Personalized Flags
Tell the children that each country has their own flags and that they are displayed on holidays to honor their countries. Set out self stick stars, dots etc. and let them desing their own flags to have a parade with. As they are marching they can sing the following to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching By.
Oh, when the flags go marching by,
Oh, when the flags go marching by.
How we love to see all the colors,
When the flags go marching by.
Now here comes Jeff, and here comes Wayne,
And here comes Jamie and Shelley.
How we love to see all the colors
When the flags go marching by.
Repeat the second verse until all the childrens names have been used.
Steal the Star
Played just like Doggy Doggy Where's Your Bone.
Soldier Ring Toss
Gather several clean one-quart bleach bottles. Decorate the bottles to look like soldiers using permanent markers. Gather several rings(about 10") or make by cutting 1" wide rings from half gallon or gallon bottles of bleach. Set up the soldiers and allow the children to take turns tossing three rings over the soldiers.
POEM
Boom Bang!
Boom, bang, boom bang!
Rumpety, lumpety, hump!
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam!
Clippety, clappety, clump!
Rustles and bustles
And swishes and zings!
What wonderful noises
Fireworks bring!
and dance to the music
Holiday Food
Graham Cracker Flags
Gather a few packages of graham crackers, whit frosting, ice cream sticks, small paper cups, and red white and blue food coloring. Give each child 3 paper cups with a tablespoon of frosting inside each cup. Drop food coloring in each cup 1 red 1 blue 1 white. Give each child a ice cream stick and instruct them to mix the food coloring into each cup. Then allow to design flag using the frosting on the cracker.
Cookie Cutter Stars
Of course don't forget the ever popular jello stars cutting them out with cookie cutters. We use red for the stars and add blueberries and vanilla flavored yogurt.
Red, White, and Blue Snack
Blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream over short cakes or pound cake.
Ice Cream Cone Cakes
Mix up a blue cake mix and poured it in ice cream cones with the flat bottom.. place cones in a muffin pan to hold them up and cook as normal... ice with white icing and sprinkle with red white and blue sprinkles.
Fire Cracker Popcicles
In small bathroom cups, pour in red fruit punch to fill cup to 1/3. freeze. pour lemonade to fill 1/3. freeze. pour the blue gatorade to fill last part and partly freeze, before totally frozen- insert a piece of licorice ( red) this will be the wick of the firecracker! Dip cups in warm water to release it from the cup. Keep cups- kids can keep it in there when eating it. Keeps them clean!
4TH OF JULY ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES
Ingredients:
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
sugar cookie dough (use your favorite recipe)
red and blue food coloring
red, white and blue sprinkles
Divide your sugar cookie dough in half and place in your 2 med. bowls. Add a few drops or red food coloring to one bowl and a few drops of blue food coloring to another bowl. Stir untill each is well blended. Add more food coloring until you like the color of your dough. Spoon dough onto your cookie sheet by rounded teaspoonfuls and bake according to your recipe directions. When cookies have cooled completely, take one red cookie and spoon on a thick layer of softened vanilla ice cream. Top with one blue cookie. Pour red, white and blue sprinkles into bowl roll the ice cream edges of your cookie sandwiches in the sprinkles. Wrap the cookies in plastic wrap and freeze until icecream is firm again. Makes approximately 20 ice cream cookie sandwiches
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE KABOBS
Supplies:
Strawberries
Pineapple
Blueberries
Cocktail toothpicks or wooden skewers
Clean and slice the fruit. Have the children place a blueberry, strawberry, and a piece of pineapple on each toothpick. If using skewers, have children repeat pattern. Makes a delicious snack.
BOOKS
Crash! Bang! Boom! by Peter Spier
