10 Ways to Celebrate and Educate on Independence Day

What motivates you to anticipate and plan for a 4th of July celebration? What does America's Independence Day mean to you? What is it about the 4th of July that stirs your spirit and excitement? Is it the grandiose parades with all the pomp and circumstance? Is it the thrilling fireworks booming the skies with lighted patterns in the clear summer night? Perhaps it's the fun festivities that your city throws in tradition with commemoration speeches in remembering the founding fathers and the meaning of liberty? Does Independence Day strike an appreciation in your heart for the thousands of heroes who served for the sake of preserving the liberties our nation has enjoyed thus far?

Whatever the reason in your motivation, celebrating with family and friends makes the day even more special. Together, you can preserve family traditions and appreciate life among the free and honor the brave. You can instill our country's values in your children and show them what this great day means to the past, the present and the future.

Here are 10 Independence Day activities that carry meaning and that your family can have fun doing:

1) Celebrate the Significance of Independence Day.
Read the Declaration of Independence out loud with everyone gathered around. Watch the video of the 4th of July Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Visit graves of our fallen heroes and leave a gift of appreciation or read about the very first celebration of Independence Day out loud from the Virginia Gazette.

2) Give Thanks
Thanksgiving isn't the only holiday in which we celebrate our gratitude! Spend some time sending out letters or Thank You cards to current soldiers and sailors. You can even send Care Packages. There are several organizations that guide you through this process.

3) Traditional 4th of July Events
Throwing a 4th of July Party, BBQ, or picnic are nice private events you can enjoy with your friends and family. If you city permits fireworks, you can throw your own private show. You can also opt to go out and see a parade and later in the evening, (as is tradition since 1777), you can watch Fireworks light up the sky with the rest of your community!

4) Attend a Flag Ceremony
Attend a Flag Ceremony the morning of the 4th of July or learn how to properly perform a flag ceremony with your kids to make it a yearly tradition. It is customary to state the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem as part of the ceremony.

5) Visit a Historical Place nearby
Anything to celebrate and educate on the history of your city or town.

6)Give Thanks at the Dinner Table
Give reasons about why you appreciate this beautiful country.

7) Play Summer Games at the Beach or at the Park
Some great games to play are Volley Ball, Balloon Fights, Water gun fights, Sack Racing, Tug of war, horseshoe, etc.

8)American Trivia Games
What better way to educate than to make a fun trivia game about our nation and culture! You can cover topics like Current events, movie trivia, presidents, songs & anthems, states and wars. Remember to understand your audience when you're coming up with the questions. You don't want to make the game too hard or boring.

9)Have a movie night with a historical movie.

10) Costume Contest with famous Historical figures as the theme!