US Symbols

One of my favorite themes to discuss US Symbols with my awesome little learners. It is such a fun unit to integrate across many subject areas. I teach this unit directly after I teach about Presidents since there is a direct tie in to each other.

First, we start the week by discussing what symbols are in our everyday life. We talk about symbols that are meaningful to us like Target or McDonald’s. We know what those symbols mean without reading them. These symbols are universally know. That means that children in Japan know what these symbols mean. {This is also a good place to tie in the flags we learned about Christmas Around the World.) Next, we talk about US Symbols we know about such as the US Flag.

US Symbols Pocket Chart Sorting

Now, we use this pocket chart sorting pictures, which are actual images of the US symbols. All of the symbols represent the US in different ways. We can sort the picture rich cards into the symbols we know and don’t know. We could also sort the US Symbols as building or materials they are made with. My goal is to show the symbols in their true form of the US Symbols. There is a printable you can use to assess their knowledge of what is and is not a US Symbol.

One huge key is to leave the pocket chart up for the entire week. This inspires their minds and encourages them to reference back to this topic. When we use this topic of US Symbols again during our literacy time. This is not just a time saver but a great way to encouraging little learners to create thoughtful, meaningful sentences. Presenting students with ways to connecting their writing to discuss symbols can allow them put complete thoughts in their minds and dig deeper!

Make Connections to Writing

Here is one page where we take images of US Symbols to spark interest in our writing activities.
Students can choose what symbol they want to use in their writing. (You can choose from a color rich option or a black and white option.)

US Symbol Facts Fun

The next day we go over a fun and detailed US Symbols PowerPoint. It covers the US Symbols and facts about these symbols. Then we dive in with these symbols in a puzzle form. You can use this in a pocket chart or as a center or station for students to piece together.

Each puzzle contains a fact, then a US Symbol, then the name of the US symbol. There is also a simpler version with just the image and name. There are also matching printables to match the symbols and facts. These can be used in centers or stations for a recording sheet if needed.

If you think the three piece puzzle is too much of a challenge,
there is also a blue framed version that contains only the picture
and the term for each US Symbol.

And of course there is a printable or recording sheet for this version as well.

Math Integration Ideas

But what about math integration? When I say I integrate US Symbols across subjects, I try to go all in! Here are some of the math centers my students will be working on to help connect our thoughts in many subjects.

 This is a math center for addition. There is an I Can statement along with a fun Mount Rushmore theme. Students solve the addition problems then match the answer to create the picture.

 There are two versions… one with the picture on the mat and another without the picture. The mat without the picture support is slightly harder. I copy the mats back to back for easy use and differentiation. There are 4 versions for really fun and interactive center time.

Here is the Statue of Liberty version.

Here is a glimpse of The White House.
Lastly, here is The Liberty Bell version.

More so, some of my students have excelled past addition and are working towards subtraction. I didn’t want to use different mats, so I created subtraction sets using the exact same mats but different equations. And yes… there are vertical and horizontal equation versions to use. 

Another center activity used tens and ones with a bald eagle theme.

One version (with a red frame) has the students matching the ten and ones to the matching number. 

The same activity is used with the blue framed version but this one has the students count and write the number inside the box. This is exactly what I need for my sweet babies who are struggling with number formation.

Here are the examples.

Then, the last center concentrates on measuring, which seems to always be a struggle for my kinders. We are struggling with using a ruler at the bottom and measuring to the top without measuring wasted space.
I made 4 color coded sets to help your little ones measure The Washington Monument.
(This helps 4 students to work at one time with their own sets or to share sets.)

And I created these measuring tools. 

Can you see the green helper line at the bottom to guide learners where to start measuring?

Here is the red helper line at the top to tell your students NOT to start measuring on that side. 

There is also a variety of response sheets.
As requested, I made versions to record the color or count using the squares, inches, or cm. 

Students measure from bottom to the top

and record their answer on the desired sheet. 

And as always, I love to use colored baggies to store the differentiated versions.
(The headers make the borders which match the baggies.)

As well as addition and subtraction sheets. 

All the activities are stored in baggies and places in my unit bin after being used. 

I hope these packs will be a HUGE help in creating an integrated week of US Symbols.