As a homeschooling mom, I’m always thinking about ways to sneak in a little learning. 

And this year, with the Semiquincentennial happening in just a few short days, maybe you’re trying to sneak in a little learning too.

So let’s talk about how we can prepare for and celebrate America’s 250th Birthday!

Way back on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates announcing our separation from England. For those 56 men, signing the Declaration was considered an act of treason, but it led to the United States of America. With all of her wonders and faults. 

So this year, just 250 years later, we are celebrating her still. Let’s talk about a few ways we can celebrate with our families, and sneak a little bit of learning in there too.

Read the Declaration of Independence together

I will have to admit, I don’t know that I’ve ever read the whole Declaration of Independence but maybe this is the year! People risked being put to death for treason to write it. Maybe my family can appreciate it not just for being written but what it says.

Visit a museum together

There are museums all over the country that talk about where we came from. It doesn’t have to be the National Museum of American History - though that would be a cool one, just find a museum that seems interesting and make a day of it. 

Go to a fireworks show

The fireworks display on the National Mall may not be in your budget this year, but there are amazing fireworks shows throughout the country. I know that sometimes we stay away from them because of the crowds and the parking but maybe this year is the year to go and sing along with our favorite patriotic songs while the bombs burst!

Learn something you might not know about our country together

One of the fun things about celebrating America's 250th Birthday is discovering things about our country that you never knew before.

For example, did you know the United States has a national flower?

We didn't either.

Our friends at Meadow & Mountain researched the story behind how the rose became America's National Floral Emblem, and it turns out it's a pretty fascinating story. For decades, different flowers were proposed before the rose was finally chosen in 1986.

It's a great reminder that there are still so many interesting pieces of American history hiding in plain sight.

If you'd like to learn more, head over to Meadow & Mountain where you can read the story, watch the video, and even see a special design they created to celebrate both the rose and America's 250th Birthday.

Go see some founding documents together

The Freedom Plane is a cool traveling exhibit that’s going to 8 cities in the country and bringing nine original founding documents to the people. If you’ve ever been to the National Archives in Washington, DC, you know how cool it is to see THE actual documents that you’ve only ever learned about.

With the Freedom Plane, some of those documents might just come to you. They’re traveling to:

• Kansas City, Missouri

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Los Angeles, California

• Houston, Texas

• Denver, Colorado

• Miami, Florida

• Dearborn, Michigan

• And Seattle, Washington

Check out their website at freedomplane.org for more information. We already have our tickets for the Seattle stop!

Learn together

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is learning together. Trooper may ask a question about something I don’t remember so we look it up together.

I just found this great mini-course on the 250th Birthday and why we’re celebrating it from Beautiful Feet Books. We love their curriculum and this looks like it will be amazing. Here is the link to download the mini-course for free.

Go to a National Park together

Remember that there are TON more National Parks than the big 63. There are National Historic Sites, National Battlefields, National Seashores. The list goes on and on. But the National Park System is definitely celebrating the 250th, so why not find one you’ve never been to, or never heard of for that matter, and plan a family trip. It doesn’t have to be far, though it can be, but it will be interesting.

Bonus points if you and your kids earn a Junior Ranger badge.

While we’re talking about Junior Ranger badges…

Make a goal to earn some Junior Ranger badges this year together

Our family LOVES the Junior Ranger program that most National Parks have. You go to a visitor center, get a booklet, complete what you need to complete, and turn it in. Then a ranger will look it over, give you a Junior Ranger badge and swear you in as the newest Junior Ranger. We’ve done these all over the country and we have ALWAYS learned something!

So why not make a goal to earn 2.5 - or 25 if you’re ambitious - badges this year to not only celebrate America but learn some things too!

Make a “250 Things We Love About America” list together

 I know one of those things for us would be the fact that we can travel all over the country without a lot of hassle. We don’t have to get special papers or anything to see this country from sea to shining sea.

What would be on your list?

Learn about your family history together

We recently got a chance to go to Ellis Island in New York - which is a whole other episode - and while we were there, we found the names of three ancestors who walked those same floors that we were walking. It was amazing!

But you don’t have to go to New York to find out about your family who came here. Where did they come from? Why did they come here? Where did they live? 

For a little help with your research, sign up for a free account at Family Search.

Plan a road trip together

My last suggestion on how to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday this year is to see some of it. 

Here’s the challenge:

• Decide how long you can be gone for

• Realistically look at how long your kids, and you, can drive in one day

• Google “Cool destinations that are a {number of hours you can drive} drive from {your city}

• Go from there!

If you need a little help planning a road trip, listen to episode 3 and episode 7 for lots of tips and tricks.

Let’s look at this from a real standpoint. Say we live in Kansas City, Missouri. We’ve decided we can be gone for 5 days and drive 6 hours. 

Google came back with 5 places we could go on our Road Trip to celebrate America’s Birthday:

• St. Louis, Missouri

• Eureka Springs, Arkansas

• Omaha, Nebraska

• Branson, Missouri

• Bentonville, Arkansas

So, find one that sounds interesting and go from there!

One of the things I love most about travel is that it helps us connect with the stories behind the places we visit.

This year, as America celebrates 250 years, I hope you'll take the opportunity to explore a little more, learn a little more, and make a few memories along the way.

Because whether you're standing in a National Park, reading the Declaration of Independence at your kitchen table, watching fireworks with your family, or tracing your family's story, you're experiencing a piece of what makes this country unique.

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

Thanks for joining us today, and as always, let's keep making traveling with your family easier, one trip at a time. See ya next time.