Celebrate the USA: Hands-on History Activities for Kids »

Lynn Kuntz is the author of many fiction and non fiction magazine articles, as well as an activity book for kids called The Naturalist's Handbook: Activities for Young Ezplorers. She lives with her husband and four children in Durango, Colorado.

Mark A Hicks has illustrated many publications and periodicals, uncluding Sesame Street Magazine, U.S. Kids Magazine, and Kids Today (USA Today). He lives in Phoenix, Arizona

Celebrate the USA

Learn all about Uncle Sam, the Liberty Bell, and Whistlin' Dixie in this dynamic activity book that is truly American! You'll discover fun facts and interesting tidbits as you learn all about the history of the USA. You'll also have fun with these great hands-on activities:

Create a fabric family tree

Make Ben Franklin's glass harmonica

Write and decode secret messages

Dye colorful colonial clothes

Fly a wind sock

Bake a very berry flag cake

Create a club seal

Make colorful kitchen fireworks

Design a beach-towel banner

Make a Lincoln penny necklace

Create a patriotic wreath

Make Fourth of July poppers

And much, much more! Whether you're at home or school or it's the Fourth of July or the Fourth of December, it's time to celebrate the USA.

Augusta R. MalvagnoCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 3-5
A colorfully illustrated cover welcomes children to this fact-filled, fun-to-read compendium of American history and 25 related activities. A varied typeface; a red, white, and blue color scheme; and page numbers printed within blue stars add to the overall appeal. The six chapters focus on "Your World, Your Land," "The Average American: Who's That?" "Breaking Away from England," "All-American Symbols," "Songs, Sayings, and Speeches," and "All-American Holidays." Many topics and fascinating facts are covered in brief, sometimes humorous explanations. Coverage includes the early immigrants, how America got its name, Native Americans, the l3 colonies, currency, songs, and holidays. Activities, such as making a five-pointed star, a compass, and Liberty Bell cookies, list "What You Need" and then "What You Do," which is color-illustrated. Safety issues are addressed where needed. Libraries will find these activities useful for assignments and programming. This book makes history come alive.

Your World, Your Land     6
Activity: Draw a Map of Your World     6
Living in the USA     7
The Average American: Who's That?     8
Early Immigrants     8
Activity: Find the North Star     9
What's in a Name?     10
Native Americans     10
Activity: Make Cave Drawings     11
The Promised Land     12
Uncharted Wilderness     14
Activity: Make a Compass     14
We All Have History     15
Activity: Make a Fabric Family Tree     16
Breaking Away from England     19
Tasting Liberty     20
Activity: Make Spearmint Liberty Tea     21
Fighting for Freedom     22
Activity: Write a Secret Message     24
The American Revolution     25
We Declare Independence!     26
Activity: Declare Your List of Rights     28
World's Best Inventor     28
Activity: Make Franklin's Glass "Armonica"     30
The Sound of Liberty     31
A Great Sacrifice     32
Colonial Uniforms     33
Activity: Dye Colorful Colonial Clothes     33
All-AmericanSymbols     36
Stars and Stripes Forever     36
Betsy Made Our Flag     37
Activity: Make a Betsy Ross Five-Pointed Star     38
Activity: Bake a Very Berry Flag Cake     39
An Eagle Soars     40
The Great Seal of the United States     42
Activity: Create a Club Seal     43
Ring in the New World     44
Activity: Bake Liberty Bell Cookies     47
An Uncle Named Sam     48
Larger than Life     49
"The New Colossus"     50
Not Just Whistlin' Dixie     51
Fun Money Facts     52
Activity: Match Money to Mugs     52
Songs, Sayings, and Speeches     54
"The Star-Spangled Banner"     55
Activity: Create Kitchen Fireworks     55
"America the Beautiful"     56
Activity: Be a Dictionary Detective     58
The Pledge of Allegiance     59
Activity: Design a Beach-Towel Banner     59
Oh, the Things Americans Say     60
Activity: Decorate Patriotic Flip-Flops     61
All-American Holidays     62
Patriotic Picnics     64
Activity: Fly a Liberty Wind Sock      64
Favorite Fourth of July Foods     66
Activity: Make a Watermelon Bowl Fruit Salad     67
Fireworks Facts     68
More USA Holidays     69
Martin Luther King Day     69
Activity: Create a King Day Patriotic Wreath     70
Presidents' Day     71
Activity: Make a Lincoln Penny Necklace     72
Memorial Day     73
Flag Day     74
Labor Day     74
Columbus Day     75
Veterans' Day     77
Activity: Support Our Troops     77
Thanksgiving Day     78
Activity: Write "Thankful" List     79