Whether you homeschool year-round or break for the summer, completing writing prompts about the 4th of July is a great way to encourage critical thinking and writing during the summer!
Let’s be honest here. Learning never stops for homeschooling families! As homeschooling parents, we’re always looking for meaningful, memorable, and fun ways to incorporate learning experiences into our everyday lives. Summer is no different!
In my home, a typical day starts with my kids completing a writing prompt or two. I like to start our days with a writing prompt because the prompts are usually completed pretty quickly (usually done in about 5 minutes!) and because writing prompts are a fun way to get my kids thinking and writing creatively!
Since so many states require parents to keep records of activities completed while homeschooling, you’ll definitely want to keep completed writing prompts organized. Not only can they be used to verify educational progress, but they could also be a cute keepsake for the future.
Like so many others, I have a bin with various keepsakes from my childhood, like journals, small toys, and concert tickets. It’s always been fun for me to read writing samples from the past and see how my handwriting has changed.
Keeping Writing Prompts Organized
To keep these writing prompts about the 4th of July organized, you might want to do one of the following:
- Designate a spiral notebook to be used solely for writing prompts
- Copy & paste the writing prompts into a Word document (1 prompt per page), then print & staple a packet together
- Start a writing prompts folder on your computer or online drive to allow your child to complete the writing prompt by typing rather than printing
Even better? Printing these 4th of July writing prompts would be a great way to fit in some creative writing during summer homeschool travel! Just bring along the prompts, and some writing utensils, and the kids will be all set in the back seat of the vehicle.
Multi-Use Writing Prompts
These writing prompts about the 4th of July can certainly be used as extension activities for other American-themed lessons! Consider including them in lessons about the Revolutionary War, while learning about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or even while learning about Veterans or Memorial Day!
They’d even be great alongside lessons on the United States government or while learning about the different military branches of the USA.
These 15 writing prompts about the 4th of July are merely a starting point for your homeschool lessons about the United States of America! Feel free to extend the writing prompt themes by watching related movies or documentaries, listening to patriotic music, or even learning about early American works of art!
Let’s Get Writing!
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! These 15 writing prompts about the 4th of July are sure to be a great part of your homeschool lessons:
- When we celebrate the 4th of July, we are celebrating our country’s independence from Great Britain. What does independence mean to you?
- Imagine you are sitting in an open field watching a 4th of July fireworks show with your family. Use your senses to describe the experience.
- Many people celebrate the 4th of July with a backyard barbeque. Imagine you have been tasked with planning the barbeque menu! Which foods would you include in your 4th of July celebration? Which foods would you avoid? Why?
- Why do you think the American flag is such an important symbol of the USA?
- What does it mean to be patriotic?
- Imagine a friend from overseas will be joining in on your family’s 4th of July celebration. How would you prepare them for this special day? Should they wear any special clothes? What can they expect to experience on the 4th of July?
- Write a poem about living in the United States of America.
- The local ice cream shop has asked you to create a new treat to be sold on the 4th of July. Describe your USA-inspired frozen treat!
- Would you like to be one of the leaders of the United States one day? Why or why not?
- Complete the sentence and elaborate: Being an American feels like…
- Our national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key after he watched a battle, in Maryland, in 1812. How do you think he felt during the battle? Why do you think he chose to write about it afterward?
- How do you feel when you hear our national anthem being performed?
- Why do you think fireworks are included in the 4th of July celebrations? Do you enjoy watching fireworks? Why or why not?
- How do you think the colonists felt after they finally got freedom from Great Britain? Why?
- If you could change one thing about celebrating the 4th of July, what would it be? Why?
How do you plan on incorporating these writing prompts into your homeschool lessons? We’d love to know!
