American Identity

American Identity

Day 1

American Identity

• Nations, like people, have an

identity, and the American identity is
a nation of immigrants

• Due to its diversity, Americans have

a variety of customs and traditions

• During Christmas, Christians

celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on
December 25th

• Jews celebrate Hanukkah, also

known as the Festival of Lights, due
to the nightly lighting of the
menorah

•Why are there so many different traditions
and customs in America?

•What is one tradition/custom celebrated by
Americans?

Day 1

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American Identity

Day 1

• Many Mexicans now celebrate their

heritage on Cinco de Mayo, May 5th

• During Ramadan, Muslims fast and

pray to become closer to God

• The Hindu tradition of Diwali, known

as the Festival of Lights celebrates
the victory of good over evil

• From December 26 – January 1,

Kwanzaa is celebrated to honor
African heritage

•What is Kwanzaa?

•What is another tradition/custom celebrated
by Americans?

Day 1

Turn and Talk

Day 2

Patriotic Symbols

• Uncle Sam is the personification of

the U.S. government drawn as an
older man who wears a red bow
tie, and a star-spangled top hat

• The U.S. flag, known as Old Glory

has 50 stars, one for each state,
and 13 stripes to represent the
original 13 colonies

• The Great Seal of the U.S. is used

only by the U.S. Department of
State and includes an eagle, 13
leaves and arrows, and the phrase,
e pluribus unum - out of many, one

•How can you describe the patriotic symbol,
Uncle Sam?

•Old Glory is the U.S. flag, what symbolism
exists in the flag itself?

Day 2

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Political Symbols

Day 2

• There are two major political

parties in the United States:
Democrats and Republicans

• The symbol of the Democratic

Party is the donkey, and their
color is blue

• The symbol of the Republican

Party is the elephant, and their
color is red

•What is the symbol of the Democratic
Party?

•What is the symbol of the Republican
Party?

Day 2

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Day 3

National Celebrations

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the 3rd

Monday in January, honors the
man, and is a time for Americans
to improve their communities
through service

• Presidents Day, the 3rdMonday in

February, honors all of those who
have served as U.S. president

• Memorial Day, the 4thMonday in

May, honors Americans soldiers
who have given their lives for the
country

•What is the purpose of Martin Luther King
Jr. Day?

•Why is Memorial Day celebrated?

Day 3

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National Celebrations

Day 3

• Juneteenth, June 19th, celebrates the

end of slavery in the U.S.

• Independence Day, July 4th, celebrates

the signing of the Declaration of
Independence and the formation of
the U.S.A.

• Labor Day, the 1stMonday in

September, honors workers who have
contributed to the U.S. economy

• Veterans Day, November 11th, honors

all Americans who have served in the
military

•What is the significance of Independence
Day?

•Who is celebrated on Labor Day?

Day 3

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Day 4

U.S. Landmarks

• The White House is the official

home and office of the U.S.
president, and is located at 1600
Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C.

• The Statue of Liberty, referred to as

Lady Liberty, stands in the New York
Harbor, and is a symbol of
democracy, freedom, and hope

• The faces of George Washington,

Thomas Jefferson, Theodore
Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are
carved into Mount Rushmore
serving as a monument to the
leadership of these men

•What is the significance of the Statue of
Liberty?

•What is the significance of the White
House?

Day 4

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U.S. Landmarks

Day 4

• The Lincoln Memorial honors the life

and accomplishment of Abraham
Lincoln, and on its steps, Dr. King
gave his I Have a Dream speech

• The 9/11 Memorial has large pools

and waterfalls with the names of
those who died during the attack,
built where the World Trade towers
once stood

• Independence Hall in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania is where the
Declaration of Independence was
debated and signed in 1776

•What is the significance of the 9/11
Memorial?

•What is the significance of Independence
Hall?

Day 4

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Day 5

U.S. Landmarks

• The USS Arizona Memorial sits

over top the sunken battleship in
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as the final
resting place of 1,177 crewman

• Arlington National Cemetery in

Virginia is the resting place of JFK,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
as well as many other soldiers

• St. Louis, Missouri was the starting

point for many pioneers who
traveled west, and now the
Gateway Arch serves as a
monument to westward expansion

•What is the significance of the Gateway
Arch in St. Louis, Missouri?

•What is the significance of the U.S.S.
Arizona Memorial?

Day 5

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U.S. Landmarks

Day 5

• The Martin Luther King Jr.

Memorial in Washington, D.C.
pays tribute to the great civil
rights leader, and is a symbol of
freedom, opportunity, and justice

• The Korean War Veteran

Memorial in Washington, D.C.
honors the 5.8 million Americans
who served in the conflict

• The U.S. Capitol building is a

symbol of U.S. politics, and the
workplace of U.S. Senators and
House of Representative members

•What is the significance of the U.S.
Capitol?

•What is the significance of the Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial?

Day 5

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Day 6

Pledge to the United States Flag

• The Pledge of Allegiance

represents the freedoms
and ideals that America
was built on

• Francis Bellamy wrote the

first version of pledge in
1892

• In 1954 during the Cold

War, the final version said
in schools today came to
be

•During what war was the final version of
the Pledge of Allegiance made?

•What does the Pledge of Allegiance
represent?

Day 6

Turn and Talk

Pledge to the United States Flag

Day 6

• When you recite the U.S. pledge, you are

giving respect to the nation and vowing your
loyalty to the place that is your home

• I pledge allegiance – I promise to be loyal

• To the flag of the United States of America –

to my country

• and to the Republic for which it stands – I

promise loyalty to the type of government we
have where the people have the power

•What do the words, “I pledge allegiance”
mean?

•Who has the power in a republic form of
government?

Day 6

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Pledge to the United States Flag

Day 6

• One nation under God – Americans are

one group under a higher power

• Indivisible – No one can split Americans

apart

• With liberty – Americans have freedoms

• And justice for all – All Americans

should be treated fairly and have the
same rules

•What does the word “indivisible” mean?

•What two things do we say all Americans
should have at the end of the pledge?

Day 6

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Leadership Qualities

Day 7

• When thinking about the qualities of

a leader, these are some that come
to mind:

• Smart and wise

• Brave

• A good listener and communicator

• Honest and trustworthy

• Dependable

• Puts others’ needs and interests before

his/her own

•What is one quality of a leader?

•Why is it important for our leaders to
have good qualities?

Day 7

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Leaders – Past and Present

Day 7

• Shirley Chisholm (1stBlack U.S.

Congresswoman), and Tammy
Duckworth (first Thai-American, and
woman with disability to serve in U.S.
Congress) both overcame obstacles to
achieve their goals

• Dwight D. Eisenhower, George Patton,

and Douglas MacArthur were all brave
military leaders

• Louis Pasteur and Dr. Ben Carson all

worked hard in the medical field to
improve the lives of others

• Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr. both worked towards equality
for all

•What leadership qualities do you see in
Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.?

•What leadership qualities do you see in
Louis Pasteur and Dr. Ben Carson?

Day 7

Turn and Talk

Day 8

Today’s National Leaders

• As of 2021, the President of

the United States is Democrat,
Joe Biden

• The U.S. Senate Majority

leader is Democrat, Chuck
Schumer, and the Senate
Minority Leader is Republican,
Mitch McConnell

• Republicans, Ted Cruz and

John Cornyn both serve as
U.S. Senators representing
Texas

House of

Representatives

•Who currently serves as the U.S. president?

•Who is the Senate Majority Leader?

Day 8

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Day 8

Today’s National Leaders

• Republican, Mike Johnson,

currently serves as the
Speaker of the House of
Representatives

• There are 36 Texans who

serve in the U.S. House of
Representatives, and INSERT
HOUSE OF REP HERE
currently serves for the area
surrounding your school

•Who currently serves as the Speaker of the
House?

•Who is your current U.S. House of
Representatives member?

Day 8

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Day 9

Past National Leaders

• The three most recent, former

U.S. presidents include:

• Donald Trump (Republican,

2017-2021)

• Barack Obama (Democrat,

2009-2017)

• George W. Bush (Republican,

2001-2009)

House of

Representatives

•Who was a recent, former U.S. president?

•What political party was a recent, former
U.S. president a member of?

Day 9

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Day 9

Past National Leaders

• Some other well-known, past U.S.

presidents include:

• Ronald Reagan (Republican) – known

for cutting income taxes

• John F. Kennedy (Democrat) – known

for being the youngest elected
president and first Catholic

• Abraham Lincoln (Republican) – known

for his leadership during the Civil War

• George Washington (No political party)

– known for being the 1stU.S. president

•Who served as the first president of the
United States?

•Who are some former U.S. presidents
(either on the previous slide, or others that
you know)?

Day 9

Turn and Talk

Day 10

Contacting Leaders

• The job of elected and

appointed leaders is to serve
the people

• People have the right to contact

leaders to ask questions, offer
suggestions, and give their
opinions on issues

• Citizens can contact leaders in

government by making phone
calls

•What is one way a person can contact a
leader?

•Why would citizens want to contact their
leaders?

Day 10

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Contact Leaders

Day 10

• There are other ways for

people to contact government
leaders, which include:

• Writing a letter and mailing it

• Emailing

• Going to the leader’s website

• Going to the leader’s social

media network (i.e., Twitter)

•What is one way a person can contact a
leader?

•What is another way a person can contact
a leader?

Day 10

Turn and Talk

Day 11

Participating in Civic Affairs

• Participating in civic affairs

means taking part in your
government and community to
make it better

• When people participate in civic

affairs they are:

• helping to uphold the values written in

the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights

• learning about and can address issues

facing their community

• helping to create positive change in their

community

•What are civic affairs?

•Why is it important for people to
participate in civic affairs?

Day 11

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Day 11

Participating in Civic Affairs

• By participating in civic

affairs people are also:

• Creating a safe, supportive

environment for everyone

• Helping to develop, shape, or

uphold the country’s identity

• Creating a successful future for the

next generation

• Some ways that people can

participate in civic affairs
include: voting, holding public
officials to their word, or
volunteering

•Why is it important for people to
participate in civic affairs?

•How can people participate in civic affairs?

Day 11

Turn and Talk