American symbols and landmarks Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 1 PDF Download

Introduction

American symbols and landmarks are special things that show what makes the United States a great country. Symbols are pictures or objects that stand for important ideas, like freedom and unity. Landmarks are famous places that tell stories about America's history and people. In this chapter, we will learn about important American symbols, famous landmarks and monuments, the American flag, and the Pledge of Allegiance. These things help us understand and feel proud of our country!

Identify American Symbols

American symbols are special pictures or objects that represent the United States.

• The Bald Eagle is a symbol of strength and courage. It is a big bird that lives in America.
• The American Flag is a symbol of freedom and unity. It has stars and stripes.
• The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and welcome. It shows America is a place for everyone.
• The Liberty Bell is a symbol of independence. It has a crack but is very important to Americans.
• The Great Seal is a symbol used on official papers. It has an eagle, stars, and a shield.
• The White House is a symbol of the government. It is where the President lives and works.
• The Stars and Stripes are on the flag and represent the 50 states and 13 original colonies.

These symbols make Americans feel proud and remind us of our country’s values.

Identify American Landmarks and Monuments

Landmarks and monuments are famous places that tell stories about America’s history.

• The Statue of Liberty is in New York. It is a big statue of a lady holding a torch, welcoming people to America.

• The Lincoln Memorial is in Washington, D.C. It has a big statue of President Abraham Lincoln, who helped keep America together.

• The Washington Monument is a tall tower in Washington, D.C. It honors George Washington, the first President.

• The Mount Rushmore is in South Dakota. It has the faces of four Presidents carved into a mountain: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

• The Golden Gate Bridge is in San Francisco, California. It is a big red bridge that connects two places over water.

• The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It rang when America became free and is now in a museum.

• The Capitol Building is in Washington, D.C. It is where lawmakers meet to make laws for the country.

These landmarks and monuments help us remember important people and events in America’s history.

The American Flag

• The American Flag is a symbol of the United States.
• It has 13 red and white stripes. These stripes stand for the 13 original colonies.
• It has 50 white stars on a blue background. Each star stands for one state in the country.
• The colors of the flag are red, white, and blue. Red stands for courage, white for purity, and blue for justice.
• The flag is also called the Stars and Stripes or Old Glory.
• We see the flag at schools, government buildings, and during special events like parades.
• We show respect to the flag by standing up and putting our hand over our heart when it is raised or lowered.
• The flag should never touch the ground, and it should be folded neatly when stored.
• The American Flag makes us feel proud to be Americans.

Pledge of Allegiance

• The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise to be loyal to the United States.
• We say the Pledge to show we love our country and its flag.
• The words of the Pledge are: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
• When we say the Pledge, we stand up, face the flag, and put our right hand over our heart.
• We say the Pledge at school, at events, or during special ceremonies.
• Meaning of Key Words:
  • “Allegiance” means promising to support and be loyal to our country.
  • “Republic” means our country is led by people we choose, like the President and lawmakers.
  • “Indivisible” means our country stays together as one.
  • “Liberty” means freedom, and “justice” means fairness for everyone.
• Saying the Pledge helps us feel proud and connected to our country.