Fundamentals Of The Fourth

With tasty barbecues, fireworks and family reunions, it’s no surprise that kids love the Fourth of July! And with so many festivities filling up the holiday weekend, it’s sometimes tricky to find a moment to teach your kids about the real significance of Independence Day.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered up some of our favorite books, movies and educational television series that teach kids about U.S. history, from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Woodie Guthrie’s iconic song "This Land Is Your Land." Regardless how old your children are, these stories imbue America’s history with a sense of humor and a bit of fun, and may even spark a new interest in history! —

Books

“John, Paul, George &
Ben”: by Lane Smith. Though it does take some liberties
with history (Smith then clarifies fact from fiction with a quiz at the end of
the book) the story follows the young Founding Fathers John Hancock, Paul
Revere, George Washington and Ben Franklin and their role in America’s freedom.
Kids and adults will love the clever humor and gorgeous illustrations.

“Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of
the Fourth of July Symbols”: by James Cross Giblin, explains the significance of the
symbols of the 4^th of July, and is a great introduction to history
for young readers.

“Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?”: by Jean Fritz, tells the autobiography of the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

“This Land Is Your Land”: by Woody Guthrie, this book package features the complete music and lyrics of “This Land is Your Land,” a photo essay about Guthrie and his legacy, a note from Guthrie’s daughter and a tribute from folk legend Pete Seeger.

DVDS And Television

“This is America, Charlie Brown”: Originally released in 1988, this classic is a two-disc DVD set that features the beloved Peanuts’ characters traveling through time to historic events, such as the signing of the Constitution and the voyage of the Mayflower.

“Schoolhouse Rock! The Election Collection”: an award-winning compilation of songs that teaches kids about United States’ history and government. “Liberty’s Kids: The First Fourth of July”: Liberty’s Kids is an Emmy-nominated animated series that follows two kids during the American Revolution. This episode features the voices of actors Whoopi Golberg and Billy Crystal and follows two young reporters at the time of the Declaration of Independence.

“1776”: adapted from the award-winning musical of the same name, this film is great for older children; it follows the representatives from the thirteen original colonies that participated in the Second Continental Congress and depicts the months of deliberation preceding the signing of the Declaration of Independence.