New York State Test Prep Social Studies 5 (Grade 4) Civics and Citizenship

Create a New Symbol for America!

There are many symbols of the United States that show pride in our nation. These symbols bond us together and represent our spirit. Pride and spirit are ideals. Ideals are the good things that we believe in. For example, American’s freedom is represented by one of our most treasured symbols, the American flag. The Statue of Liberty represented new opportunities to the many immigrants who came to America in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The Liberty bell is a symbol of our independence.

Our nation’s symbols were adopted during the last three centuries. We are now into a new century, the 21^st century. We still believe in freedom, pride in our country and opportunity for all Americans, but there are other ideals that are important to us today, as well.

Think about the ideals that are important to us today as Americans. What makes our country a great nation? What binds us together as Americans? What are the characteristics of a good citizen of the United States?

What would be a good symbol to represent that ideal? Would it be the figure of an animal? A person? Something found in nature? A building or object? Maybe it would be something completely imaginative.

Assignment:

Design a new symbol for America in the 21^st century. Draw a picture of what your symbol looks like. Write a paragraph describing it. Include the ideals your symbol represents. Be sure to give your new symbol a name.

Name of Symbol

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