PACIFIC SYMPHONY’S Virtual July 4 Spectacular July 4 Activities You Can Do at Home!
Since we’re not able to do activities with you in person, we’ve rounded up a few educational and musical activities you can do at home on July 4! We’ve included a recommended age range for each item so you can see at a glance what might be suitable for your young loved ones. Don’t worry—none of these activities require you to set off your own fireworks, but they’re all fun!
1. FIREWORKS IN A JAR With just a little water, oil, and food coloring in a jar, you can enjoy “fireworks” in the comfort of your own home! This activity is also a fun way for your family to explore some basic science concepts behind why this works!
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE PreK and older (with parent assistance) CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
2. “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND” “This Land is Your Land” is an easy patriotic song for kids and adults alike to learn! You may have sung it in elementary school yourself, but did you know that the song has SIX verses? Learn more about the song and its writer, Woody Guthrie, with these lessons from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and from the Woody Guthrie Center!
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE PreK through 2nd grade CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE 3rd through 6th grade CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS 3. FIREWORKS PAINTING This activity is another example of how you and your family can safely create your own fireworks— without any fire! Pipe cleaners or cut-up toilet paper rolls make great tools for creating just the right shape for firework art. If you don’t have paint or watercolors on hand, you can still create your own firework art—just use crayons or markers to mimic the same shapes!
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE PreK and older (with parent assistance) CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE PreK and older (with parent assistance) CLICK HERE FOR OTHER PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
4. THE FOURTH OF JULY BEYOND 1776 Although the Fourth of July officially commemorates the events of 1776, it has been an important date throughout the history of the United States of America! Learn about Frederick Douglass’ famous speech reflecting on the holiday and its meaning to Black Americans, and other important historical events that happened on the Fourth of July with this collection of stories throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE Grade 9 and older CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
5. INTERPRETING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WITH MUSIC Did you know that John Williams, the famous film composer behind music from movies like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park also wrote a piece to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty? Explore how John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare represents the Statue of Liberty and learn more about the monument itself!
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE Grade 3 and older CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS 6. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Test your knowledge of the lyrics to America the Beautiful with this activity.
RECOMMENDED AGE RANGE 4th through 8th grade CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
We hope you and your family will enjoy these educational suggestions. Make sure to check out the other educational activities available on our website at: PacificSymphony.org/LearningAtHome and share what you do with us on social media—tag @PacificSymphony!