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Activities for Grades 3–5

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#51048—The Big Book of Holidays and Cultural Celebrations © Shell Education154

Recommended Books

Graham-Barber, Lynda. 1994. Doodle Dandy! The Complete Book of Independence Day Words. New York: Avon Camelot.

Landau, Elaine. 2001. Independence Day: Birthday of the United States. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary.

Background Information

July 4, 1776, is considered the birthday of the United States. In the 15 previous years, opposition to the English rule had been growing. While there had been riots in opposition to the Stamp Act, it was Parliament’s passing of the Townshend Acts in June of 1767 that triggered the most resentment. These import duties on tea, glass, painters’ colors, oil, lead, and paper were to pay for the salaries of the royal governors and judges in the colonies.

OnMarch5,1770,tempersflaredinBoston. British soldiers were stoned byamobandfiredback,killingseveralcitizens. Known as the Boston Massacre, this event prompted the repeal of all the import duties with the exception of tea. Later that year, on December 16, the Boston Tea Party occurred. Disguised as Mohawk American Indians, men boarded English ships and tossed the cargo of tea into the Boston Harbor. The British retaliated with the passage of the Intolerable Acts, which included in part the closure of the Boston port and outlawed unsanctioned public meetings.

On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and adopted a Declaration of Rights, including the rights of life, liberty, and property. Battles such as Lexington and Concord began, signaling the beginning of the war. Upon the publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the colonies began the push toward independence.ThomasJeffersonwasappointed to draw up the Declaration of Independence. The colonies decided on July 2 that they should be free and independent states. Two days later, the Declaration of Independence was endorsed by John Hancock, president of Congress, and Charles Thomson, secretary.

ThefirstIndependenceDaywascelebrated in 1777 in Philadelphia. The observation included ringing bells, fireworks,bonfires,shipsfiring13-gunsalutes, and lighted candles in home windows.Massachusettsvotedofficialrecognition of the holiday in 1781. The Fourth of July was celebrated in the territories as well. It became a national holiday nearly 100 years later, in 1870.

Independence DayJuly 4th

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Fascinating Facts • The first man shot in the Boston

Massacre was Crispus Attucks, a black man.

• British soldiers were called redcoats because of their uniforms.

• Many people still supported King George III. Some people moved to Canada, the Bahamas, or England.

• George Washington was the commander‑in‑chief of the Continental Army.

• France sent troops to support the Continental Army.

• The last major victory for the Americans was in Yorktown, in 1781. The British began to talk about peace.

• The British Parliament voted against more fighting in 1782.

• Some battles continued until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.

HistoryGreat Britain first ruled the colonies after North America was discovered. The British taxed the people in the colonies. People were upset when they taxed tea, glass, painters’ colors, oil, lead, and paper.

People got angry in Boston on March 5, 1770. They threw stones at British soldiers, who fired back, killing and wounding citizens. This was called the Boston Massacre. The British repealed most of the taxes, but decided to still tax tea.

On December 16 of that year, some men dressed up like Mohawk American Indians. They boarded ships in Boston Harbor. They tossed the tea into the harbor. This is known as the Boston Tea Party.

On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress adopted a Declaration of Rights. The Revolutionary War began soon after. In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a powerful article about independence. It was called Common Sense.

On July 2, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, but it wasn’t signed until two days later. That is why July 4, 1776, is the birthday of the United States.

Independence DayJuly 4th

#51048—The Big Book of Holidays and Cultural Celebrations © Shell Education156

Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________

Revolutionary SoldierDirections: Use page 155 to help you unscramble the words below. Then unscramble the circled letters to answer the question.

1. inocloes

c o l o n i e s

2. xdeta

3. ttelsab

4. liedorss

5. atorecds

6. funormis

7. eeacp

8. detvo

9. The place where tea was taxed:

Independence Day

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Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________

My Independence DayDirections: Think about a past Fourth of July celebration. Describe how the day went and whom you spent it with.

Independence Day

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Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________

All About UniformsDirections: Use the words in the Word Bank to complete the puzzle about soldiers’ uniforms.

Word Bank

stockings breeches waistcoat hat

overcoat boots scabbard crossbelt

1 2      

 

  3

4             5 6

     

     

     

7      

   

   

   

8                

Across

1. worn on the feet

4. short trousers

7. worn on the head

8. worn on the chest, making an X

Down

2. like a jacket that covered the upper body

3. held the bayonet

5. worn on the legs

6. vest

Independence Day

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Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________

Loyalist or Patriot?Directions: Write about the Boston Tea Party from a Patriot or a Loyalist standpoint. Do you agree with throwing the tea into the water (Patriot)? Or do you support the king and the tax on the tea (Loyalist)? Be sure to include details as to why or why not.

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Independence Day

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Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________

Statue of LibertyDirections: Look at the picture below. Use the numbers in the grid to re‑create the picture.

Independence Day

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Directions: Make pom-poms to show your patriotic spirit!

Materials

• red, white, and blue tissue paper

• stapler

• ruler

• scissors

• craft stick

• blue electrician’s tape

Patriotic Pom-PomsIndependence Day

#51048—The Big Book of Holidays and Cultural Celebrations © Shell Education

Independence Day Answer Key

Revolutionary Soldier (p. 156)

1. colonies 2. taxed3. battles 4. soldiers5. redcoats 6. uniforms7. peace 8. voted9. Boston

My Independence Day (p. 157)

Narratives will vary.

All About Uniforms (p. 158)

1 B 2 O O T S

V

E 3 S

4 B R E E C H E 5 S 6 W

C A T A

O B O I

A B C S

T 7 H A T K T

R I C

D N O

G A

8 C R O S S B E L T

Loyalist or Patriot? (p. 159)

Answers will vary.

Statue of Liberty (p. 160)

Sketches will vary.