 |  | ||||
Happy Birthday to U.S.; Happy Birthday to YouBy KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant On July 4th, 2002, the United States celebrated its 226th birthday. Also called Independence Day, July 4th is an important holiday for Americans because it commemorates the birth of our nation. That year, many people may have strong feelings of patriotism as they celebrate the holiday, because the September 11th terrorist attacks on the U.S. renewed a sense of patriotic pride and unity around the nation.
The 4th of July has many traditions associated with it. Many communities offer outdoor fireworks displays. Fireworks, with their glorious, sparkling colors and attention-getting booms, serve both as entertainment and to remind us of important battles fought-and won-that have helped to preserve our basic freedoms. Parades and other musical performances may center upon the playing of patriotic songs. Designated an official holiday, Independence Day is also a day for many families and friends to spend time together. Since the holiday occurs during summer, some groups will plan outdoor activities such as camping, hiking or boating. For many, the 4th of July means a picnic! Foods that have come to be thought of as "American-" like hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw and baked beans, for example, will be enjoyed at backyard barbeques and gatherings across the country. All of these activities take place because Americans are helping their nation to celebrate its birthday – but just what is it that's so important about birthdays? When a person's birthday occurs, he or she won't get the same recognition as the country does. Unless people are born on an existing national holiday, or their birthdays fall on a weekend or during the summer, they probably won't even get the day off from school! Even though it may not be a national holiday, however, doesn't mean that one's birthday is not cause for celebration. Birthdays are milestones, especially for the very young and the very old. For some kids, a birthday may mean new or expanded privileges, such as a later curfew or permission to do something they couldn't do before, like cross a busy street alone or stay at home some afternoon without an adult to supervise. Some birthdays bring new legal rights and responsibilities. Turning 16, for most adolescents, means they are old enough to earn a driver's license. Two more birthdays bring minors into the "majority," which simply means they have attained the age of 18 and are legally considered adults in most states. Along with the rights of majority come certain responsibilities. With adulthood come the responsibilities to stay informed about legal issues and to vote, for example. Many young adults become responsible for paying their own car or health insurance. Adults may also be called upon to serve as trial jurors. Are birthday celebrations for children becoming too elaborate? Birthday traditions vary from culture to culture, but typically, in the U.S., parents will arrange birthday parties for their kids, with special foods to eat and presents to unwrap. A few decades ago, a typical child's birthday party involved having a few friends over to the house for cake and ice cream, playing a few games and opening a present or two. In recent years, kids seem to want more elaborate birthday celebrations, and many parents are willing to provide them. A News-Journal article published not long ago pointed out that birthday celebrations are getting much more extravagant than they used to be. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you observe customs or engage in activities that are special to you and your family? What milestones occur when you have a birthday? Find out how others celebrate their birthdays, and have fun as you explore the newspaper activities and web links provided below. Try these interesting activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal 1. For many Americans, Independence Day means additional time to spend with family and friends, and the day might revolve around preparing and eating lots of good food! Backyard picnics, for many, are a 4th of July tradition. What is your favorite picnic meal? Search The News-Journal for words and photos of foods that show your favorite foods. Clip your findings and glue or paste them onto a paper plate to show what you and your family might enjoy eating on Independence Day. Display your creation by hanging it on the refrigerator. If possible, help a family member prepare some of the foods you selected. (Sunshine State Standards FL.A.1.2.1, FL.A.1.2.2, FL.A.2.2.3, FL.A.3.2.1, FL.B.1.2.3, FL.D.2.2.1, FL.D.2.2.3)
2. Birthdays are milestones by which many mark the passing of each year. Most newspapers recognize these milestones by publishing news of celebrity birthdays. Every day, you can find this information about some sports, entertainment, political and other celebrated figures on the second page of the "A" section in The News-Journal. Check today's paper to see which stars" are observing birthdays today. Create a calendar, or adapt an existing one, to keep track of your favorite superstars' special days. When is your birthday? Be sure to take a look at the paper on that day to see who shares your special day with you. You may also want to check out your horoscope in the newspaper. (Sunshine State Standards FL.A.1.2.2, FL.B.1.2.2, FL.D.2.2.3) 3. Imagine that you wish to buy birthday presents for several family members, and that you have saved $20.00 to spend on each person. Scan The News-Journal to find one or more small gifts to please everyone on your list. Clip out each item, along with its price. Next, design a family "gift" book. Write a name on each page and paste your gifts onto the pages as appropriate. Total the amount of money you "spent" on gifts for your family. (Sunshine State Standards FL.A.3.2.1, FL.B.1.2.3, FL.D.2.2.1, FL.D.2.2.3) 4. Many Americans are experiencing a heightened sense of patriotism in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. For this coming Fourth of July, this may mean more and bigger celebrations! Parades, fairs and fireworks are just a few of the activities routinely associated with Independence Day celebrations in the U.S. Use The News-Journal to find special Fourth of July events in your area, and try to attend one with family or friends. (Sunshine State Standards FL.B.1.2.2, FL.B.1.2.3, FL.D.2.2.3) 5. What are your thoughts as Independence Day approaches? Read The News-Journal to see what others in your community are thinking about. Then, create a poem about the nation's birthday. Decorate your poem with words and pictures clipped from The News-Journal. Display your work on a bulletin board or wall so that others can read it. (Sunshine State Standards FL.A.3.2.3, FL.B.1.2.3, FL.D.2.2.3) A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn more
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Choose a pen and add your name to the Declaration of Independence alongside our Forefathers. Join the signers! Where, when and how did the tradition of birthday parties begin? How are birthdays celebrated in other parts of the world? What are some favorite, family birthday traditions? Find the answers to these questions while you check out this all-about-birthdays site. What kinds of interesting events occurred on the day you were born? This Library of Congress web site is an outstanding example. You may also want to do some exploring on your own, as this is a vast site with lots to offer. Independence Day is regarded as the birthday of the United States as a free and independent nation. Most Americans simply call it the "Fourth of July," on which date it always falls. Here's a little more history.
There is a lot of music associated with the Fourth of July as well. "Yankee Doodle" is one of America's oldest and most endearing marching airs. Every so often a movement is started to make "America the Beautiful" the national anthem instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner," largely because it was not written as a result of a war. Check out other patriotic songs and music! The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world, which may contain additional news stories about this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published July 1, 2002. Updated June 27, 2005. |
Copyright © 2008 NIE WORLD (www.nieworld.com). All content copyrighted and may not be republished without permission. The News-Journal has no control over and is not responsible for content on other Web sites. Privacy Policy. |