Civic Literacy Curriculum
This curriculum guide is intended to cover question 120.
Q120: Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Washington, D.C.
Austin, Texas
Independence Hall, Philadelphia
New York Harbor
Background
Édouard de Laboulaye, a French republican, abolitionist, and admirer of America, proposed that the French people contribute a statute to commemorate America’s achievements in maintaining a free government and in ending slavery at the conclusion of the Civil War. (The broken chains at the statue’s feet symbolize this).
“Liberty Enlightening the World,” better known as the Statue of Liberty, was a gift of the French people to the United States, commemorating the centennial of the American Revolution and republic that also inspired the French republic. That is why the tablet in her hand reads July 4, 1776. The statue was installed in New York harbor and dedicated in 1886. Laboulaye’s friend Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the statue.
Her position next to Ellis Island, which opened as America’s primary immigration intake in 1892, the installation of Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus” at the base of the statue in 1903, and the use of the statue’s imagery as a part of efforts to “Americanize” and assimilate immigrant children between World War I and II has led to an association of the statue with immigration, including the concepts of the “American Dream” and America as a place of hope and opportunity for people around the world in search of a better life. This symbolism of the Statue of Liberty is arguably more prominent today than the French contributors’ celebration of republicanism and abolition.
Discussion Prompts for All Learners
Background
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to commemorate the Declaration of Independence’s centennial. French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was chosen to create the sculpture, which would be presented to the United States in 1876. The gift was actually a joint effort -- the United States funded and built the pedestal.
Prompt 1
The Statue of Liberty sits in a harbor off of the East Coast. Where exactly is the Statue of Liberty located? Why did France give the Statue to the United States and what does it symbolize?
Prompt 2
After the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States, a newscaster stated, “the Statue of Liberty is still standing.” This was an important statement for a number of reasons. What does the Statue symbolize? Why would it be particularly important that day? How do monuments influence the citizens of a nation? Why do nations build monuments? Use current and past examples of to illustrate your answer.
Lessons
Diagram and Map the Statue of Liberty
By Stefanie Kelly
Lesson Summary: Students will learn about the Statue of Liberty, its location and symbols of freedom and justice. They will map the location of the Statue of Liberty and/or diagram it.
Learning Objectives:
Students will learn about the Statue of Liberty.
Students will apply their learned knowledge about the Statue of Liberty to create a locator map and/or diagram of the Statue of Liberty.
Lady Liberty's Symbolism
By Debora Masker
Lesson Summary: Students will understand the Statue of Liberty's importance to patriotism, location, and as a gift from France.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn about the history and significance of the Statue of Liberty.
- Students will understand its symbolism and what it represents in American culture.
- Students will understand the importance of its placement in the NY harbor.
**This lesson is part of a unit and covers:
Q119: What is the capital of the United States?
Q120: Where is the Statue of Liberty?
Q128: Name the two longest rivers in the United States.
Q129 +130: Between Two Oceans
Q131: Name one U.S. territory.
Q132: Name one state that borders Canada.
Q133: Name one state that borders Mexico.
Title: Fast and Curious Basic Geography
By Sheila Edwards
Lesson Summary: Students will use the “Fast and Curious” method to learn facts about some of America’s important physical and physiographic features. . Using this method, students take the quiz without frontloading information, and class scores are posted. The key geographical features will be taught briefly, and students will be quizzed again. Generally, after a quick review of most missed questions, students get a third chance, which is the grade used.
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to name and locate 12 physical or physiographic features of the United States.
Symbolism in the Statue
By Belinda Cambre
Lesson Summary: Students learn basic facts about one of the nation’s endearing symbols, the Statue of Liberty. They also debate whether the statue is still reflective of American values today.
Learning Objectives:
Students will learn the Statue of Liberty’s design and purpose.
Students will debate if the statue still represents America today.