American Symbols
A SYMBOL is a picture or object that stands for an IDEA. When you see a red heart, you think LOVE. When you see a stop sign, you think STOP. America has many special symbols that stand for our country and what we believe in.
The American Flag
The flag is the #1 symbol of America.\n\n- **50 WHITE STARS** on a blue background — one for each US state\n- **13 RED and WHITE STRIPES** — for the 13 original colonies\n- **Red** stands for courage\n- **White** stands for purity\n- **Blue** stands for justice\n\nWe say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in schools.
The Bald Eagle
The bald eagle was chosen in 1782 as the national bird. It stands for:\n\n- **STRENGTH** — eagles are powerful\n- **FREEDOM** — they fly high and free\n- **INDEPENDENCE** — they live only in North America\n\nFun fact: Benjamin Franklin wanted the TURKEY to be our bird! But the eagle won.
How many STARS are on the American flag?
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty stands tall in New York Harbor. She was a GIFT from France in 1886. She holds:\n\n- **A TORCH** — the light of freedom\n- **A BOOK** — July 4, 1776 (our Independence Day)\n- **A CROWN** with 7 spikes — for the 7 continents\n\nShe welcomes new immigrants to America. Millions of people saw her first when they arrived by boat.
Other American Symbols
- **The White House** — where the President lives\n- **The US Capitol** — where Congress makes laws\n- **The Liberty Bell** — rang when America became a country\n- **Mount Rushmore** — HUGE faces of 4 famous presidents\n- **Uncle Sam** — a cartoon figure of America\n- **The Great Seal** — with the bald eagle (on the back of a $1 bill!)\n\nSymbols help us REMEMBER what we stand for.
The Statue of Liberty was a GIFT from which country?
Draw an American Symbol
1. Pick your favorite American symbol: flag, eagle, Statue of Liberty.\n2. Draw it carefully with colors.\n3. Label the parts and what they mean.\n4. Example: flag has stripes = colonies, stars = states.\n5. Show your family what you learned.
Symbol Scavenger Hunt
For one week, hunt for American symbols:\n\n1. Look for flags (on poles, clothing, cars).\n2. Look for bald eagles (on money, on buildings).\n3. Check books and TV for the Statue of Liberty.\n4. Count how many you find.\n5. American symbols are EVERYWHERE once you look!
What does the WHITE on the flag stand for?
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