Famous United States Landmarks

Robin A. ZelinskiEDE 417

Unit: Famous U.S. Landmarks

• Grade: 2nd Grade

• Join us as we visit the Statue of Liberty and the White House

Objectives

• Students will learn background information on the White House and the Statue of Liberty

• Students will practice their letter writing and editing skills

• Students will understand the meaning of a symbol

• Students will chart what they know about these landmarks and what they will learn

Introduction of the Statue of Liberty

• It is located on Bedloe Island (Liberty Island) and rises above the New York Harbor

• She was a gift of friendship from France

• The statue was sculpted by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi

• Lady Liberty was shipped in 350 pieces across the Atlantic Ocean

Statue of Liberty Facts

• 354 stairs to the top• 25 windows in her

crown• 7 spikes represent

each continent• Made of copper• Weighs 450,000

pounds

• 151 ft tall• $270,000 to create• Took 9 years to

build• Required 250 crates

to ship to U.S.• Based on a woman’s

shoe size, her size is 879

Activity #1

• Read and Show the Robert Sabuda book, America the Beautiful

• Students will create a K-W-L chart for the White House and the Statue of Liberty

What I know What I want to learn

What I have learned

Materials #1

• K-W-L chart (preprinted)

• Pencils

• Computer

• Books

Activity #2

• Read the chapter about the Statue of Liberty in Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? By Teresa Bateman

• The students will write a thank-you letter to Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi for the birthday gift they gave the United States on July 4, 1884

Materials Activity #2

• Book

• Notebook paper, envelopes, crayons, pencils

• Pictures of the Statue of Liberty

Activity #3

• As a class, we will discuss what a symbol and memorial is, and as a class come up with examples of other memorials or symbols.

• Students will then create a “memorial” of an event in their life that was important to them.

• The students can use any of the art supplies provided to create their memorial.

Materials Activity #3

• Paper

• Pencils

• Crayons

• Watercolor pencils or paint

• Clay

Introduction of the White House

• Official residence of the President of the United States

• 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC

• Home of all the Presidents, except George Washington

• Construction of the White House began on October 13, 1792

Introduction Continued

• During the War of 1812, the White House was set on fire and rebuilt in 1817

• The White House sits on 18 acres

• The President’s office is called, “The Oval Office”

Activity #4

• The class will create a book for the President and send it to the White House

• Each child will create a page for the book

• Ideas they can write about:• What they like about the US?• How they can make the US a better place?• They can ask the President a question

Materials Activity #4

• Paper

• Pencils

• Crayons

• Colored pencils

• Colored paper for cover page

Activity #5

• Students will work with a partner to make a diorama of one room in the White House of their choosing, when everyone is done, we will bring them all together to make our version of the “White House”

Materials Activity #5

• Shoe boxes• Glue/tape• Magazines• Computer• Plastic figurines• Popsicle sticks• Yarn/fabric• buttons

Websites

• The National Park Service• http://www.nps.gov/stli/• Fact Monster• http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/

A0877632.html• The White House for Kids• http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/• Kidz World• http://www.kidsworld.com/

Websites Continued

• Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/

index.html• U.S. Symbols, Landmarks and Monuments• http://www.lkwdpl.org/schools/elempath/

landmarks/• Statue of Liberty Facts• http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/

liberty/libertyfacts.htm