The
summer patriotic U.S. holidays, beginning with Memorial Day, turn attention to
American government and historyt. America was founded on a democratic
government system. Here are free printable American government lessons on democracy and
core democratic values for teachers and students. PBS Kids free printable American government lessons teach that democracy is aGreek word meaning 'government by the people' ('dem' people + 'cracy'). Check that link
for more free printable Greek words and roots. The people of Ancient Greece were the first to establish the idea of common people ruling
their own country. In Greek democracy, all citizens had a right to participate
in the process of choosing who from amongst their ranks would represent them.
Typically nations were ruled by other forms of "-cracy" or
"-archy." A monarchy refers to a country ruled by one supreme head,
such as a king. "Oligarchy" refers to rule by a few elite people. In
these forms of government, people who were ruled had no say about who their
ruler would be. Leaders came to power by inheritance of a crown or by forced
military take-over. These rulers had absolute power. They made the laws that
the common man must obey. Typically the rules they made did not include
themselves.
Never
before the Greeks had a nation been ruled by a collective of people who voted
to choose representatives. Here are free printable American government lessons
on Greek democracy. Never before had a nation's people been
given a voice over who should make the laws or what those laws would be. Never
before had the rulers of a country had to obey the laws they made. The Greek
experiment with democracy, or rule by the people worked well. Here arefree printable Ancient Greece and core
democratic values lesson plans to use for American government lessons.
When
the founding fathers and mothers in America set out to establish a government,
they looked to the Greek form of democracy as a model. Early Americans had
experienced life under the monarchy of King George III and his predecessors.
They had lived in a colony ruled by another nation across the sea. The American
colonists knew about monarchies and oligarchies. To them, core democratic
values in rule 'by the people of the people and for the people' looked very
attractive. In the First and Second Continental Congress they drafted what a federal constitution and Bill of Rights that would become a model of democracy
outlined core democratic values for other nations as theirs was modeled after
the Greeks.
In a democracy, the
constitution lays out the rights of citizens very clearly. Every citizen has a
voice as to what goes into the constitution. When changes are made to the
constitution citizens must approve those changes. To explore democracy and
American history lessons in an interactive online games, visit Democracy
Game. To experience life in an ancient kingdom, click here for a free
download ofSeven
Kingdoms. Here are free printable
May
14 commemorates the landing of English colonists to
what would become Jamestown, the first English settlement in the New World, in 1607. Tampa
Bay Times said on May 12 that this marks the 409th anniversary of the Jamestown landing.
Here are free printableAmerican history lessons on the Jamestown settlement and its
settlers. The story starts back in England. The year is 1606. King James I of England grants a charter (document
giving permission to do something) to the Virginia Company. The Virginia Company owned merchant boats that traded with
other nations. The Virginia Company merchants had heard that there were riches
in the New World. The company sponsored (paid for) a group of 104 entrepreneurs
(people who start businesses) to go to the New World to start a settlement for
trade.Visit the links for free printable American history lessons on the Virginia
Compnay and its preservation.
On
May 14, 1607, after a difficult ocean voyage the settlers landed in the
Chesapeake area of North America. They named the establishment they founded Jamestown in honor of King James. Unfortunately most
Virginia Company travelers were men and gentlemen at that. Gentlemen didn't
mean what it means today--really nice guys. It meant they didn't do manual
labor. They were accustomed to having servants do their work. Not only did the
settlers know very little about farming and homesteading, they didn't want to
spend their time doing those boring farm jobs. They wanted to hunt for the gold
and treasure.
However
there was work to be done. The Jamestown settlers needed to find a safe place
to set up camp. The Jamestown settlers needed to build shelter from the harsh
weather and wild animals. They had to learn about local wildlife, to hunt and
forage for survival. They had to plant crops for food. The Jamestown settlers
were pretty much clueless about how to do any of those things. They also had do
deal with unpleasant things like being shot at by Spanish ships. They were
attacked by Algonquin Native
American Indians who saw them as a
threat. The Jamestown settlers weren't farmers nor soldiers. They were
helpless.
Imagine
the headaches for their leader Captain John Smith! Here are free printable American history lessonsshowing all the things the Jamestown settlers
had to deal with. In fairness to everyone in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith made a rule; "If a man will not work,
he will not eat." You can play a settlement simulation game using the free
printable American history lessons at National Geographic Kids to learn how
Captain John Smith organized the work. Finally, the settlers managed to build a
small small fort surrounded by a wooden palisade (wall). It helped that thePowhatan Indians helped the Jamestown settlers by trading
food for tools and beads. Chief Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas befriended
Captain John Smith and brought the settlers food. But when Captain John Smith
returned to England in 1609 for treatment of a leg injury, Pocahontas ceased to
visit. The Jamestown settlement suffered through the "Starving Time" that
winter. Only 60 of the original settlers survived. When Captain John Smith
returned on 38 of the 104 were left. Visit the links for free printable
American history lessons on the Jamestown settlers' relationships with various
native American Indian groups.
Early
summer is a time when the United States turns its attention to American
History. Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July all focus on famous people and
events in American history. One of the most famous was Benjamin Franklin.
Students study his life and works extensively in school. Who was Benjamin Franklin? He was many things--statesman, diplomat,
inventor and leader. Here are free printable lesson plans on Benjamin Franklin to explore this
enigmatic character. Born January 17, 1706,Benjamin Franklin was the 15th of
Josiah Franklin's 17 children. His parents were poor working class people.
Franklin's grandparents had been blacksmith, farmer and indentured servant.
Despite these humble beginnings, Benjamin Franklin has been called a polymath
or Renaissance Man. A Renaissance Man is a "jack of all trades," a
universal man.Most were ancients like Leonardo da Vinci and
Cicero and Imhotep who fell into it by birth.Benjamin Franklin is one of a very few people to earn this
title of Renaissance Man in modern times. Visit these links for free printable
lesson plans on the Renaissance Man.
Why
is Benjamin Franklin a Renaissance Man? Franklin was in his lifetime, an author, printer,
satirist (political humorist), political thinker, politician, scientist,
inventor, statesman, diplomat, soldier and citizen activist. Benjamin Franklin
was one of the founding fathers of America. He was one of the "committee
of five" to draft the Declaration of Independence. Franklin traveled to
England as an ambassador (person who seeks good will between nations). Franklin
met many times with King George III. As one of the Sons of Liberty, Franklin
published pamphlets educating people about problems with England. He worked
against the Intolerable Acts and heavy tariffs. Here are free printable
American history lesson plans about Benjamin Franklin and the many hats he wore.
Benjamin
Franklin lived what he wrote about: common sense, hard work, community,
education and thrift. Benjamin Franklin's book "Poor Richard's
Almanack" was a mini encyclopedia for practical information. Franklin The
Pennsylvania Gazette, an early newspapers in the colonies. He was the first
postmaster general.Benjamin Franklin experimented with electricity and invented the
lightening rod. He invented bifocal (double vision) glasses and the Franklin
pot belly stove. Franklin began the first public lending library and fire
department. He established the American Philosophical Society, was the first governor
of Pennsylvania and help found the University of Pennsylvania. Benjamin
Franklin worked hard right up to the end of his life. He fought against
slavery, tyranny and injustice. Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790.
Nearly 20,000 people from many lands attended Franklin's funeral. For more on
Benjamin Franklin, please click on any of the links listed here. For more free
printable American history lessons, visit Free Printable Lesson Plans and Free Lesson Plans 4U. You can find
help with your American history homework here, too.
Cinco
de Mayo, or Fifth of May, celebrates the victory of the smaller
Mexican army over the mighty French juggernaut, in the Battle of Puebla, 1862.
Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day, but many Latino Americans
celebrate it. Here are free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages and Mexican crafts
Kiddy
House providesfree Cinco de Mayo coloring printables linked on from the Cinco de Mayo homepage.
Color Mexican children in traditional costumes, maps and flag of Mexico, plus fiesta coloring
pages.
Surf
Net Kids has free printable Cinco
de Mayo coloring pages,
including some whimsical chili peppers in sombreros as well as a Mexican couple
in ceremonial and traditional dress.
DL-TK
is your one-stop source for free printable Cinco de Mayo crafts, coloring pages, games, Mexican history and
social studies lessons, booklets and more. Create a complete classroom or
homeschool unit to explore Cinco de Mayo and Mexican history and traditions.
Here's the page onMexico coloring pages, lesson plans and activities. Color some for
Cinco de Mayo greeting cards and party decorations.
About
Family Crafts lists a gajillion free Cinco de Mayo printablesincluding Mexican games, crafts, puzzles,
greeting cards and more.