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american identity: activity ideas

Activity Ideas | Related Resources

  1. Create a Good Citizen

    Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8
    Subject: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    As a class, brainstorm the qualities a good citizen. Use spare magazines and newspapers to create a collage of words and images that represent the idea of "good citizenship." Teachers may want to have students trace themselves (or a partner) on craft paper and create the collage in the shape of the child. Join the citizen collages together on a bulletin board or wall for display. As a follow-up discuss or write about how good citizens are important to the community and the country.

    Online Resources

    By the People:
    http://www.pbs.org/democracy/

    PBS Democracy Project for Kids:
    http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/index.html

    Civil Practices Network:
    http://www.cpn.org/

    Print Resources

    Great American Citizenship Quiz: Can You Pass Your Own Country's Citizenship Test? by Solomon M. Skolnick

    More Recommended Resources

  2. The Language of Citizenship

    Grade Levels: 6-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Reading & Language Arts; Social Studies

    Have students create a government dictionary. Begin with four pieces of white paper; fold them length-wise, then fold width-wise. On each page write a letter of the alphabet, a word that begins with that letter, a definition in students' own words, and an example. Illustration is optional.

    Next, have students create a crossword puzzle. Students summarize 20 definitions from the glossary and arrange space for the words interconnecting down and across. Color or fill-in spaces not used. Students exchange crosswords and complete.

    Create a class primer with each student responsible for a letter, word and illustration focusing on patriotism and citizenship. Bind the letters into a book.

    Online Resources

    PBS Democracy Project: Glossary:
    http://www.pbs.org/democracy/glossary

    PBS Lesson Plans/Activities

    NewsHour Extra: Teacher Resources:
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/index.html

    More Recommended Resources

  3. American ID

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies

    Americans are known as a very patriotic people. They love their country and believe it is the most successful, free and compassionate nation on earth. But Americans have different ideas about what makes them patriotic toward the United States, which is to be expected given the diversity of the population and different political, social and cultural views.

    Ask students to write or brainstorm words that come to mind when the think of the United States. What are the positive words? Are there any negative words? Then ask students what they think the image of American is in other countries. How is the U.S viewed by other populations? What are some of the reasons for these views?

    Direct your class to the P.O.V. American I.D. site on PBS. This site explores what it means to be an American in the 21st century -- through the eyes of its citizens and people around the world. Each section is divided into three themes: Freedom, Democracy and Choice. Have students explore these sections and participate in the engaging and informative interactive features.

    Online Resources

    P.O.V. Borders: American ID:
    http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2006/index.html

    Independent Lens: "The New Americans":
    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans

    Christian Science Monitor: Ways to Burnish America's Image Abroad:
    http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1003/p02s01-usfp.html

    Pew Global Attitudes Project: American Character Gets Mixed Reviews:
    http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=247

    Print Resources

    National Imaginaries, American Identities: The Cultural Work of American Iconography by Larry J. Reynolds

    More Recommended Resources

  4. Defining American

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subject: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    Have students write a short paragraph answering the question "What is an American?" Ask for volunteers to share their ideas with the class.

    Have students read the famous essay by Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur. (The essay is long, so you may want to excerpt it for student use) Discuss with students what in the essay can still be applied today to American identity. Which of Crevecoeur's ideas are out-of-date? (For example, he describes Americans as someone of "European descent.")

    Have student create a mural or presentation on how being the American identity has evolved over the past 200+ years, stressing the similarities from two hundred years ago to more contemporary perspectives.

    Ask students to imagine that the President of the United States has decided that he wants to create a new American flag, and he has asked your class to design it. Have students create these new flags on construction paper, either individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a class. Their flags should show scenes or symbols that depict their ideas about the things that make the United States unique.

    Online Resources

    P.O.V. Borders: American ID:
    http://www.pbs.org/pov/borders/2006/index.html

    Do You Speak American?:
    http://www.pbs.org/speak/

    Civics Online: What is an American?:
    http://www.civics-online.org/library/formatted/texts/crevecoeur.html

    The History Place: What is an American? (Harold Ickes):
    http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ickes.htm

    Print Resources

    American Identities: An Introductory Textbook by Lois Palken Rudnick

    More Recommended Resources

Published: July 2006