How To Raise An American

Tip of the Day: Ellis Island

Did your family’s ancestors come to America through Ellis Island?  If they did, check out “The Ellis Island Experience” at www.historychannel.com.ellisisland where they can actually answer the immigrant questionnaire that decided whether immigrants would be allowed into America or sent home.

All the news that makes kids think...

Make sure the kids keep up-to-date on the news on websites that include, games, quizzes, lots of photos, links and sections for parents, too.   Check out the New York Times “Learning Network” at www.nytimes.com/learning and the Nickelodeon Channel site www. Nick.com as well as Scholastic’s site www.scholastic.com

Westward Ho?

Were your great-great-grandparents pioneers?   Find out what their experience might have been like by watching a movie “Sarah, Plain & Tall Collection” which is based on a book girls especially will also like to read.  Another book about the pioneering experience:  “Pioneer Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes (American Kids in History Series)” by David C. King.

Old Glory

Does your family fly the flag?   You can get a very special flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol and a certificate from the Architect of the Capitol certifying that your flag was flown as requested. Anyone can do this by writing his Senator or Congressman.  If you mention in your letter that this flag was for a special occasion it will be mentioned on the certificate.  You can get the information about cost on your representative’s website, usually under constituent’s services.

Time travel with original documents

The National Archives has hundreds of interesting documents from its collection on its website.  Check out the flight plan of Apollo 13, Thomas Edison’s patent for the light bulb, the letter that Jackie Robinson wrote President Eisenhower about civil rights.   You can even walk step-by -step through the unusual meeting between President Nixon and Elvis.   www.archives.gov

Tip of the Day: Great American Potluck

Want to make a recipe that your immigrant forefathers might have brought from the Old Country?   Check out such recipes on the Library of Congress’ Great American Potluck.   You can even add your family’s favorite to the Library’s collection.  Then celebrate your family history with an entire meal of Old World dishes.

Tip of the Day: Gutsy girls!

Make sure your daughter knows about the amazing women in American history.   Some books they will enjoy include “A is for Abigail” by Lynne Cheney and a collection of books about “Outrageous Women" in various times published by Jossey-Bass.   Also fun for family listening--an audio version of Cokie Robert’s "Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation”

Tip of the Day: The Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is a symbol most children--and adults--don’t really understand.   A good website that explains its importance is www.greatseal.com.  Then ask the kids if they can find a picture of the Great Seal around the house.  And if they are clever enough to find it on the back of a dollar bill--let them have it!

Tip of the Day: Weekend Excursion

Plan a weekend excursion to a local history museum or history site.   You can find near-by sites listed on the website of the National Park Service at www.nps.gov.  Let your child bring a friend.   Make sure you stop off for a good lunch --and, yes, let them buy a souvenir in the gift shop.   It will be a great day.   

Tip of the Day: “This Day in History”

Want to know what happened in American history every single day?  Find out on the “This Day in History” section of these excellent websites:

·        The History Channel  www.historychannel.com

·        The Library of  Congress http://memory.loc.gov

·        The History Net.com  www.historynet.com

·        On-This-Day. Com www.onthisday.com