July 4th Freebies!

Sorry we are just getting this out to you!  We can't believe July 4th is a week away!

 

Free Flag Printable (from Copy Cat Crafter)

Go here to download it...it prints out to almost full size printer paper

One of the easiest, cost-effective ways to decorate for the holidays is to use seasonal prints put into frames.  Here are 3 coordinating prints to download for free!  They are available in 3 different sizes – 8×10, 5×7 & 4×6.

Free Printable 4th of July Posters

From Makoodle

National Anthem Day

The United States adopted the Star Spangled Banner as its national anthem on March 3, 1931.
 
Star-Spangled Banner was originally written as a poem by Francis Scott Key in 1814. Key wrote the verses after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by Royal Navy ships during the War of 1812. During this time, American colonists often sang Key's lyrics to the tune of a popular British drinking song titled "The Anacreontic Song."

The tune soon became a well-known patriotic song that represented America's strength and endurance during trying times. However, it was not until March 3, 1931 that the Star-Spangled Banner was designated by Congress as the National Anthem of the United States.

Found these ideas on how to celebrate today e-How:

1. Visit the flag that inspired the song at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The flag is on display for all to see, but don't try to see it until after Summer 2008. The National Museum of American History closed in late September for renovations and is scheduled to reopen Summer 2008.

2. Make a tax deductible contribution to help save the flag. The National Museum of American History is undergoing a major renovation. To do this, the Museum is in the middle of a $180 million appeal to all people who hold the museum close to their hearts. Once the museum renovation and flag preservation are complete, the flag will be housed in a new state of the art display case. Visit the Smithsonian website and give money to celebrate National Anthem Day.

3. Raise your flag on March 3. Follow proper flag flying etiquette. Fly the American flag above all other flags on display. Take down the flag in bad whether unless it is a weatherized flag. Never let the flag touch the ground.

4. Enjoy your country. America has endured. From the bombardment of Fort McHenry that encouraged the Star Spangled Banner and National Anthem day to the present state of the union, be proud to be an American and hold your head up. Be thankful for what you do have and remain faithful to National Anthem Day.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" Song & Video

Download FREE audio and video of our the Star Spangled Banner below (click on links).  This is from the National Anthem Project - visit the site direction by clicking HERE

 

Audio

• Demonstration Version (with lead vocal)
  • Full Song
  • Ringtone Clip
• Sing Along Version (without lead vocal)
  • Full Song
  • Ringtone Clip

Video

• Demonstration Version (with lead vocal)
  • MP4
  • Shockwave Flash Object
  • Windows Media Audio/Video File
• Sing Along Version (without lead vocal)
  • MP4
  • Shockwave Flash Object
  • Windows Media Audio/Video File

Listen to and Watch “The Star Spangled Banner” Performances
Audio

• The U.S. Marine Band, Colonel Timothy W. Foley, Director from Liberty for All: A Musical Journey
• The U.S. Army Band, Colonel L. Bryan Shelburn, Director from SingAmerica! Patriotic Collection
• The 1997 MENC All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (Baltimore, MD)
• The 1995 MENC All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (Rochester, NY)

Video

• Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Craig Jessop, Director (8.7 MB)

"The Star-Spangled Banner" Sheet Music

• Music and Lyrics (Service Version)
• SATB Music and Lyrics (Service Version)
• Music Only (Mariachi Version)
• Music Only (Midi/Mariachi Version) 

Standard-Based Lesson Plans
from My Music Class, MENC's Lesson Plan Library (MENC member login required)

• Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” — Elementary General Music
• Patriotic Songs at the White House — Grades 5–8 General Music
• Singing Patriotic Music — Grades K–4 Chorus
• Musical Form of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — Grades 5–8 Chorus
• Tonic Chord in “The Star-Spangled Banner” — Grades 5–8 Chorus
• Creating a Patriotic Medley — High School Chorus
• Arranging Patriotic Songs for Chorus — High School Chorus
• Notating “The Star-Spangled Banner” — Middle Level Strings
• Arranging Patriotic Music for Instruments — High School Band and Orchestra

Liberty Bell with Kids

The Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776 for the first public reading of the Declaration of independence.

"Let Freedom Ring" This is a statement that everyone knows and loves. Just staying it sets off a feeling of pride and justice for all and love of our nation and country. The Liberty Bell is just such a symbol. The inscription on the Bell states a message of liberty. The inscription has meant many different things to many people over the years. The right to choose a religion and to govern themselves is one message symbolized by the Bell. The Bell made a tour of America after the Civil war to heal a nation divided. The Bell was a reminder to all Americans of the freedom and independence they fought for years before. Most of all the Liberty Bell symbolizes the Freedom of which we live. For more then 200 years the Liberty Bell has reminded many people of the importance of Liberty.

You can visit NPS.gov by clicking HERE to learn more about the Liberty Bell, where it is housed, and more about the crack and they symbolization of the Bell itself.  You can also visit Enchanted Learning HERE for more details too.

 

Some Facts:

• The Bell weighs 2080 pounds
• It’s made of 70% copper, 25% tin and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver
• It hangs from what is believed to be its original yoke made from America elm
• Rang for George Washington’s Birthday and hours later it received fatal crack and hasn’t rung since.

Liberty Bell Crafts:

Making a Bell - There are several techniques you can use to make a replica of the Liberty Bell.  They range from styrofoam, molding clay, paper, glitter and even tinfoil.  Let your own imagination run.  Visit here for a great craft HERE

Coloring Pages - You can find many pages to print and color at Google Images by typing "liberty bell coloring pages".  You can also click HERE  for the same result .  We also found this great Patriotic Clipart Website, click HERE

 

Liberty Bell Food:

Cookies - You can easily make Sugar Cookies in the shape of a Bell and decorate them similiar to the liberty bell.

Cake - We found this adorable Liberty Bell cake from TLC Cooking, click HERE for details.

 

Liberty Bell Activities:

We are fortunate to live near the building where the Bell is housed. We have made several visits to the site throughout the years. If possible, plan a trip to see the Liberty Bell for it is really something worth seeing!!!

Liberty bell 1976 being tested for its move to a new home:  

Liberty Bell in its new home:

Liberty Bell Songs and Video:

     To listen to

Martina McBride’s Independence Day song click HERE

     To listen to

Barry Manilow’s Let Freedom Ring song click HERE 

“Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof” Leviticus 25:10

Fourth of July with kids!

“Celebrating the Fourth of July is an honor.” –R. Parks, SC

The History of the July 4th:  In 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a document was written to inform Great Britian that Amercans had decided to become independent. Independence is the freedom from control, influence, aid, support or the like of others. That document was the Declaration of Independence. This was “officially”adopted by the leaders on July 4, 1776. In August of 1776 they all signed the official Declaration of Independece. This was an extremely brave and dangerous act Americans made at that time. To support the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was actually an act of treason because we were under the rule of Great Britian. The bravery and pure passion for our Great Nations Freedom and Indepence shown by the Americans at that time is such a wonderful, extraordinary act that carries over into our lives today. You can visit this PBS site that explains the true history of July 4th by clicking HERE

I actually asked a few people on my walk into work today if they knew why we celebrated the Fourth of July. Their answers varried but basically I received answers such as, “to begin summer”, “because we won some battle”, and “to celebrate freedom with our families. Ok, I can give them that, but what a shocking realization that many people celebrate this holiday and do not even recognizes is its significance in their daily lives. This is an extremely important holiday as an American. This is the holiday that celebrates our independence and our freedom.


You can visit this website HERE that provides us with a Transcript of the Declaration of Independence


The Table Setting: We used a white table cloth and had festive red, white, and blue placemats. We used red trays and placed red plastic forks, spoons and knives on a white napkin in small flag bags that are made out of felt. We took red and white impatiens flowers in a festive red white and blue bag and placed flags and garland throughout it to make a really marvelous centerpiece. This turned out fantastic this year.

The Food: We created a tremendously good punch made with grape juice, pineapple juice, lemon lime soda with fresh blueberries and strawberries floating in it. In that we placed star shaped ice cubes. This was really terrific. It looked so festive and everyone loved it. We made a flat panned cheesecake and decorated it as a flag with Cherry pie filling for the red stripes, Blueberry pie filling for the star section and then whipped cream for the stars and the white stripes. It was so cute! We served the typical BBQ food, burgers and hotdogs and all the accessories that come along with BBQ food.  The kids had fun place toothpick flags in every piece of food they had, lol.

The Activity: We really think that a great activity on this holiday is to actually read the Declaration of Independence. You can pick out pertinent statements and lines from the Declaration of Independence and have them recreate the document adding the lines or words they chose to their very own document. Have them sign it and get them to ask family members to sign it too. Explain that the biggest signature on the Declaration of Independence is John Hancock. This is why they will sometimes hear someone say that name, John Hancock, when asking for their signature.

The Crafts:
Parade Gear: You can make party hats for your community parade.  We made these last year and the kids had a lot of fun making them.  We have also decorated our own T-shirts.  Found this cute inexpensive paper craft TipNut.com called Patriotic Paper Lollies.  You can find the directions HERE

Miscellanous things we found on the internet:

Taco Dip Flag -this is too cute for anyone that normally makes the taco salad dip for their get-togethers.  They placed the ingredients so that it looks like the American Flag.  You can get the recipe HERE

Free July Desktop picture/calendar - Download this adorable Desktop image with calendar HERE 

Print these adorable vintage pictures from Country Living to use in various craft projects HERE.  You can also check more craft projects from Country Living HERE

Happy Memorial Day!

In honor of the soldiers who have given their lives for our country

and for the lives they left behind - Happy Memorial Day

HERE is a link that describes the history of this day

Memorial Day with Kids!

Facts -
For most of us this is a day to celebrate the beginning of summer activities. Truly this is a day that dates back to the end of the Civil War and is dedicated to the men and women who served our country and gave their lives for our freedom. With that being said Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer season.

Fun -

We will be celebrating Memorial Day in the traditional way by having a BBQ. Grilled vegetable kabobs, Turkey Burgers, Corn on the cob, patriotic cones filled with blue, red and white corn chips! Yummy! Of course with any good and successful BBQ you need a fabulous dessert and have we got the perfect Memorial Day dessert. We will be using freshly picked strawberries, blueberries, homemade whipped cream and delicious short cake to create a delicious, phenomenal, fun and patriotic desert. For those who do not want the short cake, we will be using skewers to make fruit kabobs. So fun and very occupational for Lauren who will meticulously place fruit onto the skewer in a pattern that we will draw for her to follow. She will be encouraged to try to skewer the fruit through their centers and in a pattern.

Crafts -

One of the crafts we decided to make is something we saw on Martha Stewart's website. This craft is a great way to use the Fringe Scissors we bought for Easter Crafts we did back in April. As we love things that can have many uses we will be using these wooden BBQ skewers for both decoration in and around our plants and for our meal. You can place these paper fireworks in your plants or you can fill glass jars or cups with play sand in patriotic colors of course, and use them around the table setting.

Whats great about this holiday is that you can reuse your crafts or decorations for more holiday to come like Forth of July and even Labor Day!  We will post our own pictures after we make our crafts and tablesetting for you to see soon!