Freedom 250 Unit Study and Meeting Plan

By Kerry Cordy
May 14, 2026

America 250/Freedom 250 Unit Study

by Kerry Cordy

Freedom is a word we use often, but it has meant different things to people throughout history. In this unit study, we will explore what freedom looks like in the United States as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. You will learn about the founding of the nation, key historical events, the responsibilities that come with freedom, and how individuals can make a difference in their communities. Along the way, you can connect this study to badges such as Citizenship, American Heritage, Patriotism, and U.S. Government. This is a chance to look at freedom not just as a concept, but as something we live out every day.

Celebrating 250 Years

Birthdays celebrate the beginning of something special. Just like people celebrate their birthdays each year, countries can celebrate milestones too. This July marks 250 years since 1776, when the United States declared independence.

To Do: Talk about what birthdays celebrate and why they are special. Throw a 250th birthday party for the United States of America.

Full instructions for hosting an 250th Birthday Party can be found on our blog.

250th Birthday Party

Fulfills Preschool requirement #2

American Symbols

Symbols help represent ideas in a simple way. In the United States, symbols like the Statue of Liberty, the flag, liberty bell and the bald eagle stand for freedom, strength, and unity.

Learning these symbols helps people understand what the country values.

To Do: Play Guess the Symbol (Charades Style)

How to Play:

Print out the symbol cards and cut apart
One player draws a card and acts it out without speaking.
The group guesses the symbol and then explains what it represents.

Examples:

Holding a torch = Statue of Liberty (freedom/welcome)
Flapping arms = bald eagle (freedom/strength)

Statue of Liberty
A gift from France, the Statue of Liberty represents freedom and welcome, especially to immigrants arriving in the United States.

Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell stands for independence and freedom. It rang to mark important events and announcements and was hidden during the American Revolution to keep it from being melted down.

Bald Eagle
The bald eagle was chosen as a symbol because it represents strength, courage, and freedom, and it is native to North America.

American Flag
The American flag represents the United States, with 13 stripes for the original colonies and 50 stars for the states.

Great Seal
The Great Seal is used on official documents and shows symbols like the eagle, arrows, and olive branch to represent peace and strength.

Mt. Rushmore
Mount Rushmore features four presidents carved into rock, honoring leaders who helped shape the country.

U.S. Capitol
The U.S. Capitol is where laws are made, so it represents the government and the people’s voice.

Washington Monument
The Washington Monument honors George Washington, the nation’s first president and a leader of the American Revolution.

Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a character used in posters and cartoons to represent the United States and encourage people to support their country.

Download Cards

Fulfills Level 1 requirement #2

What Happened in 1776?

In 1776, the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence explained why the colonies wanted to become their own country. This was the beginning of the United States as an independent nation.

This moment is worth celebrating because it marked the start of a country built on the idea of freedom.

Resource: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration

To Do: Have participants earn “tokens” (like candy or points). This can be done by playing games, doing chores, good behavior, anything you choose. If you use food rewards, do not let them eat them, just collect them. Once everyone has some tokens, randomly take some away without explanation. Let them react—then discuss why colonists were upset about unfair taxes before 1776. Have them each explain in their own words why 1776 is important and why it is worth celebrating today.

Fulfills Level 2 requirement #2

Rights and Liberties

The United States protects freedoms through important documents like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These outline rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial.

These rights are what allow people to live freely while still maintaining order and fairness.

Resource: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights

To Do: Play “Rights in Action”

Supplies:

Two buckets or boxes
10 blue index cards
10 yellow index cards
10 red index cards
10 green index cards
Masking tape

Setup:

Place the two buckets at the front of the room
Divide participants into two teams (one for each bucket). One has the freedom of speech and one does not.
Each team appoints a caller for their team who will stand by their bucket.
Use the masking tape to create a starting line in front of each team
Give each team 5 of each color index card

How to Play:

The goal is to get as many of the correct cards into your bucket as possible.
Only one person may run to their team bucket at a time. All other participants on the team must stay behind the line until that player returns. Then another may run.
Only one card may be run at any time.
On “Go!” the caller on the team with freedom of speech begins calling out the colors on their list one at a time. Their team then chooses the correct card and sends someone up to put it in the bucket
The caller of the team who can’t speak must find another way of letting his team know what color they need to bring to the bucket. Those on the team without the freedom of speech also cannot speak to one and other and must decide who is running which card without talking.
Once the correct card is in the bucket, they caller may call the next card.
First team to get 10 correct cards in the bucket wins

At the end of the game, discuss the value of the freedom of speech. How did those whose rights were removed function? Were they still able to play even though hampered? How did the freedom of speech help the other team work more effectively? Relate this lesson to freedom of speech in everyday life.

Fulfills Level 3 requirement #2

How Government Works

The United States government has leaders at the local, state, and national levels. Cities have mayors, states have governors, and the country has a president. Laws are created through a process that involves discussion, voting, and approval.

Understanding this system helps people see how decisions are made and how freedom is protected.

Resource: https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government

To Do: Find out who your mayor and governor are. Then create a simple diagram showing how a law is passed. Click on the image above to download and print it.

Fulfills Level 4 requirement #2

Road to 250 Timeline

The history of the United States includes many important events that shaped freedom over time. From independence to major changes in laws and rights, each event adds to the story of the country.

Looking at these events together helps show how the nation has grown.

To Do: Create a “Road to 250” timeline with at least 10 important events in U.S. history, including at least 2 from your state. Click on the image above for the printable PDF. For more fun timeline ideas, visit out blog.

Fun Timeline Ideas

Fulfills Optional requirement #6

Freedom Over Time

Freedom has expanded throughout U.S. history. Events like the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement helped extend rights to more people.

This shows that freedom grows as people work toward fairness and equality.

To Do: Identify at least three groups whose rights expanded after 1776 and explain what changed for them. Design the front page of a newspaper announcing a major rights milestone for a specific group. It should include headlines, drawings, and a short explanation of what changed. Examples might include:

The 13th Amendment ending slavery
The 19th Amendment giving women voting rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1964

Fulfills Optional requirement #12

Symbols and Creativity

People often express their understanding of freedom through art, writing, and design. Creating something helps make ideas more personal and meaningful.

To Do: Create a poster or display showing what freedom means to you today.

Fulfills Optional requirement #9

Freedom in Action

Freedom is not just something we learn about—it is something we live out. People use their freedom to help others, improve their communities, and take responsibility for their actions.

Learning how to participate in a community is an important part of understanding freedom.

To Do: Learn about one way people participate in their community (such as volunteering or public service) and discuss how it supports freedom. Volunteer for something in your community that is important to you. You might pick up trash to keep your town clean, help with a food drive to make sure your community is fed, help out at a local museum to help educate others, and so much more.

For more community service ideas, visit our blog.

Community Service

Fulfills Optional requirement #16

External Resources

Final Ideas / Extension Activities

Visit a historic site or museum related to American independence
Learn and recite a patriotic song or poem
Create a patriotic craft or decoration
Interview a community member about what freedom means to them

If you enjoyed this unit study, you’ll love Curiosity Untamed. Membership gives you access to thousands of hands-on badges, unit studies, and higher awards for all ages—designed to make learning flexible, meaningful, and fun.

Join Now!