Pie is for Sharing
Apply in the Classroom
Encourage students to think about what they could share to help celebrate the fourth of July with families that are new to your community. Picnics and fireworks are fun, but you can really bring some zing to America’s birthday with reading! Independence Day is, after all, a celebration of a written document.
Ask students to brainstorm how to share positive messages about summer reading to welcome more people to your community of readers with bookmarks, posters, and a booklist of titles generated by student vote that celebrate America and its people.
Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing
How do you celebrate the 4th of July?
Who do you celebrate with? Where do you celebrate?
Are there any special foods you always eat for the 4th of July?
What traditions do you like celebrating on the 4th of July?
What ideas do you have for new traditions?
Related Teaching Resources
It’s Independence Day! Or is it? from ReadWriteThink
Culturally Responsive Instruction for Holiday and Religious Celebrations from Colorin Colorado
Celebrate Juneteenth! Compare Juneteenth celebrations to Fourth of July celebrations from ReadWriteThink
Reading Is Fundamental support materials
Interview with Janet S. Wong about Apple Pie 4th of July from Reading Rockets
Fourth of July – Independence Day from the History.com
More Titles to Try
Elementary
Celebration! by Jane Resh Thomas
Uncle Chente’s Picnic/El Picnic De Tio Chente by Diane Gonzales Bertrand
The Flag We Love by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong
Red, White, and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw
Hats off for the Fourth of July! by Harriet Ziefert
Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo
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