Fun Independence Day Crafts for Kids!

I just love holidays!! They provide a great opportunity for my children to learn through making crafts! With my oldest son currently in boot camp for the U.S. Navy, I'm especially fond of the upcoming Independence Day Celebrations! What a wonderful time to teach my children about our great nation, how it came into existence, and why we celebrate the 4th of July!

 1. Popsicle Stick American Flag - Our flag consists of 13 equal, horizontal stripes of red and white - representing the 13 British Colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the Union. It also has 50 stars - representing the 50 United States of America.
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2. Uncle Sam Paper Plate - a national personification of the U.S. Government that, according to legend, came into use during the war of 1812 and was supposedly named for Samuel Wilson.
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3. Liberty Bell - an iconic symbol of American Independence located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall), the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack (today the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) in 1752 and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."(a portion of Leviticus 25:10).
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4. Confetti Launcher - Okay... this one was for FUN!!  But, a great opportunity to explain to your kids WHY we use fireworks on the 4th of July:

The reason we use fireworks as part of the 4th of July celebration is this:

John Adams (a Founding Father and signer of the Declaration), wrote a letter to his wife, and said that Independence Day "will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America...It will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews [performances], Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations [fireworks] from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."  And so that is what Americans do today.
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I hope you have fun teaching your children about America!  We live in a great country and can be very proud!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!