Lady Liberty Slides Stop 1: New York City
Lady Liberty
Gift of Friendship
Let's visit one of the biggest statues in the whole world!
Virtual Field Trip
A Giant Surprise!
Imagine a statue so big that you could climb inside its head to look out windows!
Fun Fact:
Her index finger is 8 feet long! That's taller than most basketball players!
A Gift from France
🇫🇷
France
🇺🇸
USA
France gave us the Statue of Liberty to say "We are your friends!" It was built to celebrate America's 100th birthday.
Looking Closely
The Torch
It shines a light to welcome people to America.
The Tablet
It has the date of America's birthday written on it.
The Crown
The 7 points are for the 7 oceans and continents.
Hello, America!
The Statue of Liberty stands on an island in the water. For a long time, she was the first thing people saw when they moved to America by boat.
She represents freedom and friendship.
Boats arriving at the Statue
Your Explorer Challenge
Let's zoom in! Look at your teacher's screen. Can you find:
Lady Liberty's giant copper feet?
The tiny people walking at the bottom?
The broken chains at her feet (symbol of freedom)?
Liberty Lesson Guide Liberty Lesson Guide
Lesson 1: The Statue of Liberty - A Gift of Friendship
Grade
1st
Learning Goals
Identify the Statue of Liberty as a landmark.
Explain that it was a gift from France.
Recognize the symbols of the torch, crown, and tablet.
The Hook
"Imagine a statue so big that you could climb inside its head to look out windows. We are going to visit her today!"
Materials
Lady Liberty Slides
Lady Liberty Labels Sheet
Google Earth / Tour Site
Instructional Flow
1
Virtual Arrival (10 mins)
Use the slides to introduce the "trip." If possible, use Google Earth to "fly" from your school to New York Harbor. Emphasize that it is an island.
2
The "Gift" Discussion (10 mins)
Explain why France gave us the statue. Ask: "Have you ever given a friend a special gift? How did it make you both feel?" Connect this to the friendship between countries.
3
Symbol Scavenger Hunt (15 mins)
Walk through the "Parts of the Statue" slide. Have students stand up and act like the statue: right arm holding a torch high, left arm holding a heavy tablet.
Prompt: "Why do you think her torch is shining high?" (To guide/welcome).
4
Labeling Activity (15 mins)
Hand out the "Lady Liberty Labels" worksheet. Help students read the words and glue/write them in the correct boxes.
Discussion Prompts
"The statue is made of copper (like a penny). Why is she green now?" (Weathering/Oxidation).
"If you were moving to a new country and saw this statue, how would you feel?"
New York, NY
Landmark Explorers Sequence
Lady Liberty Labels Worksheet Lady Liberty Labels
New York Harbor Expedition
Explorer:
Date:
Diagram of the Statue of Liberty
Your Mission
Look at the word bank below. Write the correct word in each box to label Lady Liberty's special parts!
Word Bank
Torch
Crown
Tablet
Island
Think About It:
"What is Lady Liberty holding that shines light for everyone to see?"
BONUS
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from which country?
Presidential Pad Slides Stop 2: Washington D.C.
The White House
Home and Office of the President
Where do you live?
Most People
Live in a house and travel to work.
The President
Lives and works in the same big building!
Let's peek inside...
Inside the White House
The Oval Office
This is the President's actual office! It is shaped like an egg (an oval).
State Dining Room
Big fancy dinners happen here for leaders from all over the world.
Virtual Tour View
Not Just an Office!
Movie Theater
Swimming Pool
Bowling Alley
Chocolate Shop
The President's family lives on the top floors!
1600
Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, D.C.
This is the address of the White House. It's the most famous house in America!
White House Walkthrough Guide White House Walkthrough
Lesson 2: The President's Home & Workplace
Grade
1st
Objectives
Identify the White House as the home and office of the President.
Locate Washington D.C. as the city for this landmark.
Recognize the unique "Oval" shape of the President's office.
Key Vocabulary
President: The leader of our country.
Landmark: An important building or place.
Address: Numbers and street name for a house.
Activity Guide
1
Home vs. Work (10 mins)
Discuss how most people go to a separate building for work. The President is unique because they "live above the shop." Use Slide 2 to spark this conversation.
2
Virtual Room Hop (20 mins)
Use a virtual tour tool (Google Arts & Culture has a great White House tour). Stop in the Oval Office . Ask students why an office might be round (no corners to hide in!).
3
The "Fun" Tour (10 mins)
Discuss the amenities (theater, pool, etc.). Explain that because the President is so busy and famous, they have to have these things at home for safety and convenience.
4
Design-a-Room (15 mins)
Students complete the "Inside the White House" worksheet where they design a special room for themselves if they lived there.
Teaching Tip:
"First graders love the idea of the bowling alley and chocolate shop. Use these 'cool' facts to keep them engaged before switching to the serious business of the President's job."
Washington, D.C.
Landmark Explorers Sequence
Inside the White House Activity Inside the White House
Design Your Presidential Room
Resident:
Date:
Your Mission:
The White House has 132 rooms! If you lived in the White House, what kind of special room would you build? A Lego room? A giant library? A candy kitchen? Draw it below!
My Special White House Room
Tell us about your room:
My room is called the
room.
I put it in the White House because
Memory Monuments Slides Stop 3: National Mall
Memory
Monuments
How we remember our great leaders
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument
What is a Memorial?
A memorial is something special we build so people will NEVER FORGET an important person or event.
Think about it:
"How do you remember something important? Do you take a photo? Do you keep a souvenir?"
The Washington Monument
Built to remember George Washington , our first president.
It is the tallest building in D.C.!
It is shaped like an "obelisk" (a tall, skinny stone).
Surrounded by 50 American flags.
Lincoln Memorial
Built to remember Abraham Lincoln , our 16th president.
Inside you'll find:
• A GIANT statue of Lincoln sitting down.
• 36 tall white columns (for the states back then).
• His famous speeches carved into the walls.
The steps where many people gather.
Monument Match-Up
🏛️
Like a Temple
The Lincoln Memorial looks like a big stone building with a statue inside.
📏
Like a Pencil
The Washington Monument is tall, skinny, and points to the sky.
Which one would you want to visit first?
Memorial Moments Guide Memorial Moments Guide
Lesson 3: Remembering Our Presidents in Stone
Grade
1st
Key Concept
Students need to understand the difference between a home (functional/living) and a memorial (ceremonial/commemorative).
Target Skills
Compare/Contrast shapes
Identifying historical figures
Vocabulary: Obelisk, Column
The "Why" Prompt
"If you wanted everyone to remember your favorite teacher 100 years from now, would you build a tall tower or a house with a statue?"
Instructional Flow
1
Define Memorial (5 mins)
Use Slide 2. Discuss how humans have always built things to remember people. Use the "keepsake" analogy (photos, trophies).
2
The Tall One: Washington (15 mins)
Show the Washington Monument. Focus on the shape. Ask: "Why build it so tall?" (To stand out, to be seen from far away). Mention he was the "Father of our Country."
3
The Sitting One: Lincoln (15 mins)
Show the Lincoln Memorial. Compare the shape to a shoebox or a temple. Discuss why he is sitting (to look thoughtful, powerful). Count columns if possible.
4
Memory Matching (15 mins)
Students work on the "Memory Matching" sheet. They must match the face of the president to the monument built for them.
Classroom Simulation idea:
Have students build their own "Memorials" using wooden blocks. One group builds a "Washington Tower" and another builds a "Lincoln Temple" for a class mascot.
The National Mall
Landmark Explorers Sequence
Memory Matching Worksheet Memory Matching
Who do we remember in Washington D.C.?
Explorer:
Date:
Draw a line to match the President to the special Memorial built to remember him. Then, color in the shapes!
George Washington
1st President
Abraham Lincoln
16th President
Washington Monument
Shaped like a pencil
Lincoln Memorial
Has a statue inside
Why do we build memorials? (Circle your answer)
To sleep in at night
To help us remember
Mountain Faces Slides Stop 4: South Dakota
Mountain
Faces
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Get Your Cameras Ready!
A Mountain of Art!
Can you imagine carving a face into a hard rock mountain? These faces are 60 feet tall !
A Person
Small
Lady Liberty's Head
Huge
Rushmore Face
GIANT!
Who are they?
1. George Washington
He started the country.
2. Thomas Jefferson
He helped the country grow.
3. Theodore Roosevelt
He helped build the parks.
4. Abraham Lincoln
He kept the country together.
"They were chosen because they represent the history of America."
Blasting and Carving
1
They used dynamite to blast away 90% of the rock!
2
Workers sat in hanging chairs to carve the details.
3
It took 14 years to finish the whole mountain!
Brave workers high up on the rock
Grab Your Tools!
We are going to try carving our own faces into "mountains" (of soap or clay).
Be Gentle
Take Your Time
Have Fun!
Sculpting Stories Guide Sculpting Stories Guide
Lesson 4: Mount Rushmore - Faces in the Rock
Grade
1st
Goals
Identify Mount Rushmore as a landmark in South Dakota.
Recognize the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
Understand that carving stone is difficult and takes a long time.
Materials Needed
Bars of Ivory soap OR Clay
Plastic spoons/craft sticks
Mount Rushmore Map sheet
Instructional Flow
1
Travel West (10 mins)
Explain that we are moving away from the East Coast (NY/DC) to the middle of the country: South Dakota. Use the slides to show the transition to the "Wild West" mountains.
2
Identify the Faces (10 mins)
Focus on the four presidents. Ask students why they think these four were picked. Prompt: "What did they do for America?" (Started it, grew it, protected it, saved it).
3
Simulation: Carving (25 mins)
Give each student a block of soap or clay. Have them use a plastic spoon to try to carve a simple face (eyes, nose, mouth). Emphasize how much effort it takes to remove material.
Challenge: "Imagine doing this on a giant rock while hanging from a rope!"
4
Map Skills (10 mins)
Complete the Mount Rushmore Map worksheet to identify the state and name the four presidents.
Safety Tip:
Remind students that soap "dust" is slippery. Keep the carving area over a tray or paper towel for easy cleanup.
Keystone, SD
Landmark Explorers Sequence
Mount Rushmore Map Activity Mount Rushmore Map
South Dakota Adventure
Explorer Name:
Date:
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The Four Faces
Write the names of the presidents carved into the mountain. Use the word bank!
1
2
3
4
Word Bank
Washington
Lincoln
Jefferson
Roosevelt
Why did they pick these four presidents?
"Because they represent the first 150 years of American history!"
Travel Report Slides Travel Report
Postcard
Workshop
Time to share what we've seen on our big trip!
1. Statue of Liberty
Located in: New York Harbor
A giant gift from France. She welcomes people with her torch of freedom.
Torch Tablet Crown
2. Washington D.C.
Buildings: White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument
The heart of our government and where we remember our past leaders.
The President lives here!
3. Mount Rushmore
Located in: South Dakota
Four giant faces carved into the mountain to celebrate American history.
WASHINGTON • JEFFERSON • ROOSEVELT • LINCOLN
Choose Your Favorite!
The Front
Draw a beautiful picture of the landmark you liked the most.
The Back
Write a note to a friend or family member telling them one thing you learned.
"Where have you been? What did you see? Tell us all about it!"
Postcard Project Guide Postcard Project Guide
Lesson 5: Summative Assessment - Writing Home
Assessment
FINAL
Success Criteria
Illustration: Drawing clearly represents one of the 4 landmarks.Identity: The name of the landmark is written correctly.Fact: At least one factual piece of information is included.
Writing Support
Sentence Starters:
"I am visiting the..."
"It is located in..."
"My favorite part is..."
"I learned that it is..."
Workshop Procedure
1
The Big Review (10 mins)
Use the Travel Report Slides to do a quick-fire review. Ask: "Who can tell me something about the Statue of Liberty?" "Where is the White House?" etc.
2
Choose Your Stop (5 mins)
Give students a moment to pick their favorite landmark. Remind them they have to be able to draw it and tell one fact about it.
3
Drafting & Drawing (30 mins)
Hand out the "National Landmark Postcards" template. Students should color the front first, then flip to write their message. Encourage them to look back at previous worksheets for spelling.
4
"Sharing the Mail" (10 mins)
Students sit in a circle and "deliver" their postcard by reading it to a partner.
Differentiation:
For students struggling with writing, allow them to dictate their fact to you while you write it on a sticky note for them to copy. For advanced students, encourage them to include the city and state.
Postmarked: Classroom
Landmark Explorers Sequence
National Landmark Postcards Template National Landmark Postcard
Pick your favorite place and write home!
NAME:
DATE:
Postcard Front
DRAWING AREA
Draw your favorite landmark here!
I visited:
Page 1: The beautiful view
Postcard Back
PLACE STAMP HERE
Dear ,
From,
TO ADDRESS:
Page 2: Your message and facts
