---
title: American Symbols
created: '2026-05-26'
updated: '2026-05-26'
type: lesson_topic
subject: history
tags:
- history
- grade-2
- homeschool
standard: ''
phase: 3
phase_name: "SPRING: Growing Nation & World Cultures (Weeks 17\u201324)"
weeks:
- 18
source: ''
---
# American Symbols
Second grade history topic covering american symbols. Part of Phase 3 (SPRING: Growing Nation & World Cultures (Weeks 17–24)).
## Key Concepts
Symbols that represent the United States
- **Objectives:** Identify flag, eagle, Statue of Liberty, national anthem
- **Activities:**
- Flag meaning — colors and stars/stripes
- Pledge of Allegiance — what does it mean?
- Create an American symbols poster
- **Assessment:** Identify 5 American symbols and explain what each means
### Week 19: Presidents and Leaders
**Focus:** The role of the president, notable early presidents
- **Objectives:** Understand the president's role, identify George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
- **Activities:**
- George Washington — first president
- Abraham Lincoln — freed the slaves, kept the country together
- What does a president do?
- **Assessment:** Write/draw about one president and why they were important
### Week 20: States and Regions
**Focus:** The United States has 50 states in different regions
- **Objectives:** Identify major regions, understand each state is different
- **Activities:**
- U.S. map — locate major states
- Compare states: California vs. Alaska vs. Florida
- States by region (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West)
- **Assessment:** U.S. map — label 10 states and their regions
### Week 21: Continents and Oceans
**Focus:** The world has 7 continents and 5 oceans
- **Objectives:** Name and locate continents and oceans
- **Activities:**
- World map — find all 7 continents
- Name the 5 oceans
- "Where in the world?" geography game
- **Assessment:** Label world map with continents and oceans
### Week 22: Countries and Capitals
**Focus:** Different countries around the world
- **Objectives:** Identify major countries and their capitals
- **Activities:**
- Learn about 10 countries and their capitals
- Country flags — identify and draw
- World trivia game
- **Assessment:** Match countries to capitals (10 pairs)
### Week 23: Cultures and Traditions
**Focus:** Different ways people live around the world
- **Objectives:** Understand that cultures have different food, clothing, holidays, music
- **Activities:**
- Compare holidays: Christmas, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid
- World foods — try recipes or pictures
- Traditional clothing from different countries
- **Assessment:** Describe a tradition from a culture different from their own
### Week 24: World Review — Mid-Year Check
**Focus:** Review and consolidate learning
- **Objectives:** Demonstrate understanding of history, geography, and culture concepts
- **Activities:**
- Geography scavenger hunt on a map
- History timeline review
- "Around the world" trivia game
- **Assessment:** Comprehensive review quiz covering Weeks 1–23
---
## Standards
Not specified
## Prerequisites
[[the-first-colonists]], [[the-thirteen-colonies]], [[colonial-daily-life]], [[the-road-to-independence]], [[american-revolution-overview]]
## Related Topics
[[founding-documents]]
---
*Generated from curriculum data* ^[[raw/curriculum/history]]