A Week of American Wonders: A Lesson Plan for Mirabelle

Materials & Resources Needed:

• Art Supplies: Plain paper, colored pencils, crayons or markers, a large piece of poster paper or construction paper.
• Building Supplies: White LEGOs, wooden blocks, marshmallows and toothpicks, or a recycled cardboard box.
• Printer: For optional worksheets and crafts.
• Device for Videos: Computer, tablet, or phone for viewing YouTube videos.

Resource Recommendations:

• Book Suggestions:
  • The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan
  • A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler
  • The White House: A Pop-Up of Our Nation's Home by Robert Sabuda (or a simpler picture book like Clifford at the White House)
  • We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow
• YouTube Channels/Videos:
  • Search for: "US Symbols for Kids" (from channels like Homeschool Pop or PBS Kids)
  • Search for: "George Washington for Kids" (short, animated biographies are best)
  • Search for: "White House Tour for Kids" (The White House Historical Association often has good clips)
  • Video: Schoolhouse Rock's "The Preamble"
• Twinkl.com Search Terms:
  • "American flag coloring page" or "Design a flag template"
  • "George Washington coloring sheet"
  • "White House craft" or "White House paper model"
  • "USA symbols PowerPoint"

Day 1: Our Country's Symbols (15-20 minutes)

Learning Goal: Mirabelle will be able to identify the U.S. flag and the bald eagle and create her own personal symbol that represents her family.

1. Warm-Up (3 minutes): Start by asking, "Mirabelle, what is a symbol? A symbol is a picture that means something special. A heart is a symbol of love! Our country has symbols, too." Watch a short, engaging YouTube video on U.S. symbols to introduce the flag and the bald eagle.
2. Book Time (5 minutes): Read The Flag We Love. As you read, point to the flag and talk about its colors and shapes. Ask questions like, "What do the stars make you think of?" and "Why do we treat the flag so carefully?"
3. Creative Application (7-12 minutes): Say, "Let's create a flag for our family!" On a piece of paper (or a template from Twinkl), have Mirabelle design a flag. Ask her:
   • What colors represent our family? (e.g., Yellow for happiness, blue for calm)
   • What animal could be our family symbol? A lion for bravery? An owl for being wise?
   Let her draw the symbols and explain what they mean. This is about her creativity, not a perfect drawing!
4. Wrap-Up: Proudly display her new family flag and let her tell you the story behind her design.

Day 2: The First President (15-20 minutes)

Learning Goal: Mirabelle will be able to state that George Washington was the first president and draw a picture of him.

1. Warm-Up (3 minutes): Ask, "Who is the leader of a country called? A president! Do you know who the very first president of the United States was?" Watch a short, animated YouTube video about George Washington.
2. Book Time (7 minutes): Read A Picture Book of George Washington. Don't worry about all the details. Focus on one or two simple, memorable facts: "He was the first president," and "He was a great leader who helped our country get started."
3. Worksheet & Art (5-10 minutes): Use a simple coloring page of George Washington from Twinkl or give Mirabelle a blank piece of paper. Say, "Can you draw a portrait of our first president, George Washington?" While she colors or draws, you can chat about the one fact you focused on. For fun, you can try to draw his famous curly hair together.
4. Wrap-Up: Ask Mirabelle to show you her picture and tell you the one thing she remembers about George Washington. You can write "George Washington, 1st President" on her artwork.

Day 3: The President's Home (15-20 minutes)

Learning Goal: Mirabelle will be able to describe the White House as the place where the president lives and works, and she will build her own version of it.

1. Warm-Up (3 minutes): Show Mirabelle a picture of the White House. Ask, "What a special house! Who do you think lives here?" After she guesses, explain that it's the White House, where the president lives with their family and also does their important work. Watch a short "kid's tour" of the White House on YouTube.
2. Building Challenge (12-15 minutes): This is the main, hands-on activity. Say, "Let's build our own White House!" Provide the building materials you've chosen.
   • Option A (Blocks): Use white LEGOs or wooden blocks to construct the building.
   • Option B (Crafts): Use a small cardboard box, paint it white, and add details with markers. Or, use marshmallows and toothpicks to build a fun, edible version!
   • Option C (Twinkl): Print a simple 3D paper model of the White House from Twinkl for a cut-and-paste activity.
   The goal is creative construction and fun, not an architectural replica.
3. Wrap-Up: Take a photo of Mirabelle with her White House creation. Ask her, "Who lives and works in the house you built?"

Day 4: The Country's Rules (15-20 minutes)

Learning Goal: Mirabelle will understand that the Constitution is the country's most important set of rules and will create a "Family Constitution."

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes): Begin with a relatable idea. "Mirabelle, what are some of the rules in our house? (e.g., 'Be kind,' 'Clean up toys'). Why do we have rules?" Explain that rules help everyone stay safe and happy. A whole country needs rules, too! Their most important set of rules is called the Constitution. For fun, watch the Schoolhouse Rock "Preamble" song on YouTube. Explain that this is the introduction to the Constitution.
2. Book Time (5 minutes): Read We the Kids by David Catrow. The book has wonderful, funny illustrations that make the ideas in the Preamble (the introduction to the Constitution) easy to understand. Talk about what the pictures show.
3. Creative Application (5-10 minutes): This is the big project! Take out a large piece of paper and write "The Mirabelle Family Constitution" at the top. Say, "Let's write our own special family rules, just like the Constitution has rules for the country." Work together to create 3-4 simple, positive rules. For example:
   • Rule 1: We promise to be kind to each other.
   • Rule 2: We promise to use our listening ears.
   • Rule 3: We promise to give hugs when someone is sad.
   Let Mirabelle decorate the poster with drawings and then sign her name at the bottom.
4. Wrap-Up: Hang your Family Constitution somewhere you can both see it every day. Read the rules aloud together and give her a high-five for being a wonderful "founder" of your family's rules!