{"id":2553,"date":"2010-03-25T20:04:44","date_gmt":"2010-03-26T01:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2553"},"modified":"2010-03-25T20:04:44","modified_gmt":"2010-03-26T01:04:44","slug":"teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-the-journey-of-the-one-and-only-declaration-of-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2010\/03\/25\/teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-the-journey-of-the-one-and-only-declaration-of-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: The Journey of The One and Only Declaration of Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\"declaration.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction and Summary<\/strong>
\nThe Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence<\/a> was written by Judith St. George<\/a> and was illustrated by Will Hillenbrand<\/a>.\u00a0 The book is a historical account of the Declaration of Independence, a powerful document used to commence this nation’s government and more importantly free the colonists from the grasp of England.\u00a0 The book goes into detail about some of the signers of the document and even the person who had to draft all of the copies of the document.\u00a0 From this point, the book reveals the true story of the many places this important document was housed over the past 200 plus years.\u00a0 It goes as far as to describe some of the ways the document was preserved and repaired so that it could be viewed by all, even today.<\/p>\n

“On July 4, 1777, the Declaration of Independence was one year old.\u00a0 So was the United States.\u00a0 Like any one year old, the nation was toddling on unsteady feet.\u00a0 The war still hadn’t been won.\u00a0 But it hadn’t been lost, either.\u00a0 Philadelphia threw a wingding of a birthday party.\u00a0 The Declaration didn’t march in the parade…or join the militia in firing a salute…or marvel at the sky-high fireworks.\u00a0 But the forty-four line, one page parchment was the star of the celebration.\u00a0 Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!\u00a0 Now the Declaration could be placed under glass in the Pennsylvania State House for all the world to admire, Right?”<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nThis book discusses one of the most important tools in our nation’s government, the law.\u00a0 It stresses the importance of this document to secure America’s way of life and the ways it has been defended, protected and preserved for all time.\u00a0 While the Declaration of Independence is a lesson in civics about the rights and privileges of free people, the book also provides a strong lesson of American history.\u00a0 One that this books spends a lot of time discussing places and dates with regard to the Declaration of Independence.\u00a0 It might not fit some of the standards for lesson planning but is a fun and insightful book for students in the third through fifth grades. (VA SOL 3.11 or CE.2)<\/p>\n

Additional Resources <\/strong><\/p>\n