Steeping in American Independence & Freedom

We've been enjoying an informal steeping in all-things American independence, since we celebrate our 236th anniversary this coming Wednesday! (I didn't initially plan it this way, but looking back at the week, I see it's been the case, so I shall keep it going -- at our unschooling-style leisure -- through July 4th.)

Kiddos at the Jefferson Memorial, D.C.

On Monday, we visited the national capital, Washington D.C. Our long day began at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, where I read each of the 4 large texts to the kids.

Southwest wall, excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men."

Northeast wall, excerpt:

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" 

Northwest wall, excerpt:

"Almighty God hath created the mind free ... No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief ..."

On Tuesday, we visited Mount Vernon, the George Washington Estate. We sat under a huge American Elm tree and played free for a while, picking black raspberries, blowing bubbles, collecting sticks, watching tractors work and cows graze. It was lovely, and all with the Potomac River over the hill and Washington's house (and hoards of people) on the other side of the lawn. I read aloud to the kids from The Declaration of Independence (cheap second-hand find), where we again focused on and discussed the part "all men are created equal ..."

(We see the Washington Monument every time we're in or near D.C., so President Washington comes up often -- particularly that he was the general of the army in our battle for independence and that he was our first president. We have a couple 2nd-hand children's books, including If You Grew Up with George Washington, at which we've also been looking.) 

On Wednesday, we started reading from a book (and listening to the music included) from the library, The Star Spangled Banner. One of the images in it includes the famous scene at Iwo Jima, where brave American Marines defeated the relentless Japanese to capture the strategic island.

On Thursday, we visited the Marine Corps War Memorial, which is a monstrous depiction of the famous scene at Iwo Jima. We didn't dwell on it too much, but after I gave a brief rundown of the battle at Iwo Jima and WWII, I asked the kids questions like, "Were those Marines brave or wimpy?" "Were they strong or weak?" "Were they being lazy or working hard" "Were they courageous or cowards?" "Were they operating in valor or selfishness?" "Were they thinking of themselves or other people?" (Nevermind they may have also thought of themselves ...) Jedediah answered them correctly and with great conviction, apart from some confusion on the last question. I also talked about how Japan and the U.S. are now friends, or allies, drawing their remembrance to a Japanese ex-pat family we knew while living in Ohio.

Kiddos at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), D.C.

Then in the evening, we got back into The Star Spangled Banner and The Declaration of Independence books, the latter of which includes a map drawing of the 13 colonies. This prompted a study of the American flag. It was funny, most of the drawings included 15 stripes, so we brought our big flag in the house and counted -- indeed, there are 13 stripes!

We also pulled out our "aged" Declaration of Independence, which was $1 or so at Williamsburg. (I can't find it online.) 

Today, we haven't yet delved into American independence and freedom. We're just playing, but "academically" we huddled around our Children's Weather Encyclopedia ($2.99 at TJMaxx) to learn more about wildfires, drought, flooding, and the like. There are a zillion crises all over the world at any given time, but the Waldo Canyon fire has really drawn our attention since Tony and I both graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and have friends in Colorado Springs -- we're praying for rain for Colorado, cooler temperatures, and protection for all.

Pray for Colorado!!! (photo source)

In the Coming Days, I plan to revisit the books and activities mentioned, as well as try some other books and activities, and we'll hopefully spectate at the local Independence Day parade on the 4th of July.

I'll sign off sharing a reflection on Winslow Homer's Breezing Up, the subject of our very first picture study, which the kids spotted in our treasure hunt at the National Gallery of Art Monday. 

The painting, incidentally, entered its first exhibition in 1876 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of American Independence. One writer noted,

"The skipper's young American son, gazing brightly off to the illimitable horizon [is a symbol of] our country's quiet valor, hearty cheer, and sublime ignorance of bad luck."

Hmmm ... I just pray we keep our freedoms noted in The 3 Charters of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Happy Independence Day!