RED, WHITE AND BLUE:

Circle time and concepts to teach: Independence Day is July 4th, the Liberty Bell, the flag, the Statue of Liberty. It commemorates the United States birth as a nation. The Declaration of Independence.

ART PROJECTS: - FIREWORKS PAINTING Use a very large piece of paper (like bulletin board size) Let children drop small amounts of paint (different colors works good) Have the children swirl the paint out with a spoon, let them keep swirling from the center, in all directions around the drop of paint. Some of them may overlap, and that is fine, too. When it is finished it looks like fireworks bursting in the sky.

-TORCHES: Use old newspapers and roll them in a large cone shape. Let children paint the cones. When dry, stuff with red and yellow tissue paper. to be the "flame" of the torch/ * Have the children make crowns, and then they can be the statue of Liberty. I often let them parade.

-FLAGS: Start with white construction paper. Children glue on red strips, to make red and white stripes. Then glue a blue square in the top left corner. For the stars you can use white tissue paper, crumpled up, or star stickers.

-BELLS: Use paper cups and let children decorate them. (have them add a "Crack", like the Liberty Bell) use string through the bottom of the cup, aand tie on a small 'jingle bell'

-ROCKET: make a cone shape, out of construction paper. Decorate with markers. Cut a narrow (approx. 2" long) slits on opposite sides of the wide open end. Use 18" of string, and with the point up, put the string through the slits, and pull sharply on the ends of relaxed string (rocket will fly into air)

WIND SOCKS: use red, white or blue construction paper and roll it length wise. Glue, tape or staple together. Add string as a handle to one end. Add red, white and blue streamers to the other end.

-Use only red white and blue items in your art center. - FLAG CAKE: Bake a cake (rectangle shape like 9x13). Frost with white frosting (or whip cream). Put sliced strawberries for the stripes, and use blueberries in the corner.

Songs, Fingerplays, and Grouptime Fun