On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was unveiled to the American people and dedicated in New York Harbor. There, she welcomes all visitors, immigrants, and Americans returning  to the United States. She has become a symbol of friendship, freedom, democracy, and hope. And in two days, the Statue of Liberty will celebrate her 124^th birthday.

So let’s celebrate! Here are five ways to make October 28^th a monumental day in your classroom:

1. Create a Symbols Book: Have students create a book in which they draw or display pictures of America’s patriotic symbols, including the Statue of Liberty. Have them include definitions and important historical facts for each.
2. Make Your Own Symbol: Lead a discussion on what symbols mean and what the Statue of Liberty symbolizes to people. Then have students draw and define their own symbol.
3. Create a Timeline: Read the book Create a Timeline from Imagine Learning English.  Discuss the events that led from the idea of the Statue of Liberty up to her dedication. Then help students create their own timeline of the events.
4. Make a Comparison Chart: To help students relate to the enormous size of the statue, have them create a size chart. Begin by making the chart three columns wide and seven rows tall. Label the columns Body Part, Statue of Liberty’s Size, and My Size. In the rows under Body Part, list the following body parts: hand, index finger, fingernail, head, nose, and right arm. Next, help students fill in sizes for the Statue of Liberty (see here).  Finally, have students measure themselves and write down their sizes in the My Size column. When they’re done, hold a discussion and have students share how they measured up.
5. Make Your Own Statue: This activity will take a bit more time, but can be a lot of fun. First, lead a discussion on liberty. Help students understand how liberty can be personified in a statue. Then have them study the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, in which the Statue of Liberty “speaks.” Next, have students make a sculpture that represents an abstract idea.  Finally, have them write a poem in their statue’s voice.

You can find more information about the Statue of Liberty and lesson plan ideas here:

• National Park Service
• Statue of Liberty lesson plan from pbs.org
• NPS Historical Handbook
• Statue of Liberty Fun Facts
• Statue of Liberty Lesson Plan from Edsitement

What ideas have you used in your classroom for celebrating and learning about the Statue of Liberty? We’d love to hear them!