Whether your family has a summer homeschooling rhythm or summer reading goals, sometimes learning opportunities pop up in an organic and meaningful way. The Fourth of July is the perfect time to read a few books with your family and revisit the origin story of American history and learn about historical events like the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
In this blog post we are sharing how to implement a simple holiday study during summertime, plus a free Independence Day booklist with a few living books to read with your children.
In this blog post:
- How to do a simple Independence Day unit study with children
- Independence Day booklist for kids [Free printable PDF]
How to do a simple Independence Day unit study with children
Looking for a simple way to turn Independence Day into a learning opportunity for your family? If your children love holiday studies, here are some simple ways to engage with your children and learn about the history of the United States leading into the Fourth of July holiday.
- Ask: What do your children already know about Independence Day? What do they want to know? Write it all down on a big whiteboard or chalkboard.
- Read: Gather lots of good books! If you can only read one book about this to your kids, read this one. You can also try finding it read aloud on YouTube. (Grab the free booklist below.)
- Watch: Watch a field trip tour of the Liberty Bell or educational video about another element of Independence Day that strikes your children’s interest or answers their questions.
- Draw: Sketch a picture of a founding father, the Declaration of Independence, or the Liberty Bell. Use an online tutorial for help.
- Notebook: Help your children write anything related to what you’ve explored and learned. Add a timeline, a map, poetry, a song, or some copywork to their pages. Encourage children to make it their own.
If you are looking for a study that is more detailed, we love this three-day unit study from A Living Learning Co., pictured below. For more robust history curriculum choices, see all of our favorite history curricula in this blog post.
Independence Day booklist for kids [Free printable PDF]
This Fourth of July, teach your kids about the history of the United States with living books the whole family will enjoy. Download the free, printable PDF Independence Day Book List for Kids below.
Will your family read any books along with July 4 this year? Share your favorites in the comments below.
