If you’re teaching this summer, you may be on the hunt for the perfect 4th of July activities for elementary students. Celebrating Independence Day in the classroom provides a wonderful opportunity to combine fun and learning while fostering a sense of patriotism.
From creative and fun crafts and engaging stories to educational games, these 4th of July activities for kids will help students understand and appreciate the significance of this historic holiday.
What Can you do to celebrate 4th of July?
Check out these 4th of July activities for school to teach your students the importance of Independence Day and have a fun classroom celebration!
Try out a 4th of July Craft: Patriotic Windsock
Create a festive patriotic windsock using red, white, and blue construction paper. Roll the paper into a cylinder, attach streamers to the bottom, and decorate with stars and stripes using stickers, markers, or paint. Add a string hanger at the top, and display the windsock outside to catch the wind and show off its patriotic colors.
Read a 4th of July Book: “The Night Before the Fourth of July” by Natasha Wing
“The Night Before the Fourth of July” by Natasha Wing is a delightful rhyming story that follows a family’s preparations and celebrations for Independence Day. From decorating the house and participating in a parade to enjoying fireworks, the book captures the excitement and traditions of the holiday. It’s a perfect read to get kids excited about the festivities and to discuss the various ways people celebrate the Fourth of July.
Play a Fun and Educational Game: Patriotic Bingo
Play Patriotic Bingo by creating bingo cards with symbols like flags, fireworks, and eagles. Draw slips of paper with matching symbols from a hat and have players mark their cards. The first to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins, providing a fun and educational way to learn about Independence Day symbols.
Take it to the next level by checking out these ready-made 4th of July activities and classroom resources!
4th of July Glasses Craft
Use these fun Fourth of July glasses to celebrate the national holiday of our Independence! Students can color and assemble their own patriotic glasses, making them a perfect accessory for any 4th of July event. This craft is a simple and enjoyable way to add some festive flair to your classroom celebrations.
Fourth of July Bulletin Board
Looking for a unique summer bulletin board? I have you covered with this print and go PDF that includes bulletin board letters, stars, and Pop Art pages to use with photos or drawings. This set features 22 slides with 3 Pop Art choices (for a photo, a drawing, or answering writing prompts), 3 different types of writing prompts (blank, primary lined, or intermediate lined), and a star to cut out and color or place a photo.
It also includes premade letters that say “OUR SHINING STARS” and stars to run on colored paper to make the board pop. An example of how to assemble the board is provided. Students can work alone or with a partner to create a poster, placing a photo of themselves or their partners who worked on the project.
4th of July Craft Hat and Writing Prompts
Looking for an engaging activity to do with students this 4th of July? Have them create their own 4th of July hat to wear while using the provided writing prompts to express how they celebrate the 4th of July! This download includes a cover, 2 pages for the hat, and 3 different writing prompts with both primary and intermediate lines.
The prompts are: “What it means to be an American,” “How we celebrate the 4th of July,” and “Persuade your teacher to have a 4th of July Party,” complete with a photo example to guide students.
I hope you have lots of fun celebrating the 4th of July with your students! If you want more summer fun, check out my post here for some summer activities!