Learning how America came to be, and what it means to be an American
For this lesson you will need:
Hand towel
Several 'A' items
Cookie sheet
marker
paper or white board
map of state (see link)
map of world (see link)
Picture of President
American Flag (real or picture)
Styrogoam bowl empty milk carton,or empty 2-liter bottle
Coloring page of american flag (see end of lesson)
Ingredients for snack of choice
Welcome Song: (To tune of Old MacDonald):
Welcome, welcome everyone
So glad that you are here.
Today we’re gonna have some fun
So let’s give out a cheer
Woo hoo!!
Clap clap clap clap
Slap(legs) slap slap slap
Clap clap clap let’s go! (when you shout “let’s go!”, do a group high five in the center)
Question of the day: If you could visit anywhere in the whole world, where would you choose to go? Pass the speaking bear around, and allow each child to share their answer. Share your answer with the children as well.
Number of the Day ‘1’: Display the number 1 on a piece of paper, and tell everyone to take a good look at it. Have them stand up and tell them you are going to play some music. While the music is playing they are to dance any way they like. When the music stops, they must form their body into the shape of a number one, just like they see on the paper.
Have them do this three or four times. (Don't forget to praise them for their super groovy moves) Have a hand towel ready for each person to wipe their face afterward (for effect).
After sitting, have each child choose one sticker from the sticker basket and stick and put it on the sticker chart. Explain that when the sticker chart is filled with stickers they will get a special reward!
Ask them how many noses they each have. How many tongues? How many heads?
Ask what would happen if they had more than one of each of these body parts.
(Thank GOODNESS for the number 1.)
Letter of the Day ‘A’: Before Preschool, fill a cookie sheet with items that begin with the letter A, and cover with a towel. When it’s time, allow children to view the items for about one minute. Cover the items again, and ask each child one at a time to tell you the name of one item they remember seeing on the tray. Go through each child until all of the items have been listed. Some examples of things to add to the tray are: Apple, paper Airplane, jar of Applesauce, Animal, Apron, Aluminum, Acorn, toy Angel, toy Alligator, etc. Uncover the tray again and hold up each item one at a time, having children say the names of them aloud. Emphasize the A sounds in each word. Ask what letter each of these items start with.
Demonstrate how to write the letter Aa, and allow them to practice in their writing notebooks.
Teach the ASL sign and sounds of the letter A.
Teach ASL signs for Apple, Ape, and America.
Introduction of Topic: Ask children to tell you about where they live. Children may describe their house, the city they live in, etc. Draw a picture of a house on a white board or piece of paper, and say, “we all live in different kinds of homes. Our home is in the city (or town) of _________” (draw more houses and tall buildings around the first house) Ask children what they might find in a city or town (schools, libraries, restaurants, stores, post office, etc).
“A city, or town is a part of something bigger, called a State. We live in the state of ________. Show children a map of your state.” Explain that each state is made up of many different cities. Describe something unique about the state you live in.
“Our state is part of something even bigger, called a country. There are many states in our country.”
Show picture of the world and point out that there are many countries in the world.
Point to a country in Africa and explain: “People who live in this country speak a different language, eat different foods, celebrate different holidays, and even have different colored skin than people who live in this country (Point to China).”
Point to the United States of America and point out that this is the country we live in.
“Does anyone know what our country is called?”
Have children repeat after you “America,” also called “The United States of America.”
“Today there are millions and millions of people that live in America, but there hasn’t always been that many people here.”
Story: (You may illustrate on paper, use stick puppets, or draw little faces on your fingertips to act out this story) Many years ago, some explorers from Europe, set out to see what they could find. They packed their ships with lots of food, clothes and supplies, and set off into the ocean. After many weeks and months of travel, they came to a land that they had never seen before. They were so excited to tell the people from their country (point to Spain) what they had found.
Many people wanted to see and live in this new land, which was later called America. They felt that they would have a better life here. When they arrived, they met a group of people who had already been living on this land, called the Native Americans. The Native Americans taught these new people how to plant gardens so that they could grow their own food to eat. The people built homes, schools, and churches. They worked together to build towns and cities, kind of like the one we live in today.
The people who lived in this country had to pay a lot of money to the King of England, since he was the man in charge. They had to obey all of his rules. They didn’t like this at all. The people felt like he wasn’t being fair. After a few years of fighting, the people who lived in America were finally free. They didn’t have to do what the King said anymore. They could choose for themselves how they wanted to live.
This is one of the very best things about living in America: We have Freedom, which means we can choose what we want to do in our lives.
We can choose what church we want to go to, and what we believe. We can choose what to wear, and what to eat for breakfast. We can choose what to buy at the store, and what kind of job we will have when we get big.
Activity: Ask each child the following questions. Allow them to stand up and give their answer. “What do you want to be when you grow up? What kind of ice cream would you choose at the ice cream shop? What kind of clothes did you choose to wear today? What kind of sports/instruments will you choose to try when you get a little older?
Hold up a picture of the President of the United States (see below) and ask the children if they know who this man is. Explain that he is the leader of our country and does all he can to help our country to be the very best it can be. He and his helpers work hard to keep us safe and healthy and happy. (will talk more about him in another lesson)
If you have an American flag in your home, show it to the children and allow each of them to take a turn holding and waving it.
Explain how we hold our right hand to our heart and look at the flag when we say the pledge of allegiance. This shows that we are grateful for and proud of the country we live in. Emphasize the importance of treating the flag carefully, and with respect.
Art: Choose from the following:
Have children color a picture of the American Flag
or
Bake a cake and have children decorate it like the American flag with candy, frosting, fruit, etc.
and/or
Make ships out of household items: Styrofoam bowls,milk cartons walnut shells, etc, and pretend they are explorer ships. Set them free in a bathtub of water and try to help the ships sail across the bathtub by blowing on them with a straw.
Snack/Lunch: Choose a favorite American food to share: Mini Hamburgers, Apple pie, or whatever you can come up with!
Service: Invite a friend or neighbor to share your American snack/lunch. They'll love it. Ask them questions about places they've visited in America.
Good bye song: To the tune of “If You’re Happy and you Know it”
If you’ve learned a lot today, clap your hands (clap clap)
Here’s the letter of the day (sign the letter A), clap your hands (clap clap)
Oh, we’ve had a lot of fun,
Now our preschool time is done (tap index finger to wrist)
See you next time (wave) and we’ll do it all again! (Clap clap.)
