The document outlines an educational tour for students that will take them to historic sites in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington D.C. related to the founding of the U.S. and the development of the Constitution. Students will visit places like Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Memorial to learn about important figures and events. Each evening features a living history presenter in character like George Washington or Benjamin Franklin to further engage students.

1. Live the Birth of the
Nation
Ariena Lovejoy
Grade-5

2. California State
Standards
• 5.7.2. Explain the significance of the new Constitution of 1787, including the struggles over its
ratification and the reasons for the addition of the Bill of Rights. 25
Suggested Titles for California Social Studies State Standard 5.7.2.
• 5.7.3. Understand the fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy, including how
the government derives its power from the people and the primacy of individual liberty. 42
Suggested Titles for California Social Studies State Standard 5.7.3.
• CA.5.7. United States History and Geography: Students describe the people and events
associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution's
significance as the foundation of the American republic.
• 5.7.4. Understand how the Constitution is designed to secure our liberty by both empowering and
limiting central government and compare the powers granted to citizens, Congress, the president,
and the Supreme Court with those reserved to the states. 36
Suggested Titles for California Social Studies State Standard 5.7.4.
• 5.7.5. Discuss the meaning of the American creed that calls on citizens to safeguard the liberty of
individual Americans within a unified nation, to respect the rule of law, and to preserve the
Constitution. 20
Suggested Titles for California Social Studies State Standard 5.7.5.
• 5.7.6. Know the songs that express American ideals (e.g., 'America the Beautiful,' 'The Star
Spangled Banner'). 7
Suggested Titles for California Social Studies State Standard 5.7.6.

3. National Geographic
Standards
• Connections to the National
Geography Standards:
• Standard 2: "How to use mental maps
to organize information about people,
places, and environments in a spatial
context"

4. Overview:
• This lesson has students review and practice their
knowledge of compass directions. They will do
several brief exercises to practice using
directions in their community and on maps, and
conclude by using their compasses on visits to
each historic landmark.
• Students will visit landmarks of our forefathers
and learn the fundamental principals of American
Constitutional Democracy.

5. Materials
• Students will need a compass
• Paper (for journal)
• Pen ( for journal)

6. • The best way to engage young people and help
them explore their heritage is to walk in the
footsteps of history. Freedoms Foundation's
Encounter History Tours bring students to the
sites where the United States of America was
born through the love of labor of our earliest
civic heroes and introduce them to such important
figures as George Washington, John & Abigail
Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Phyllis Wheatley,
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Dolly
Madison, and many more.

7. Cornerstone of Freedom
• This academic tour includes Colonial Philadelphia,
New York City, and Washington, DC. With an
overnight in our nation's capital, students will
visit the National Mall to explore memorials to
Lincoln, Jefferson, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, as
well as stops at the Smithsonian's Air and Space
and American History Museums. No visit to DC
would be complete without a visit to the class'
Representative on the Hill and a chance to see the
U.S. Constitution and Declaration of
Independence at the National Archives.

8. Schedule
• Sunday—Arrival Day
• Dinner/Welcome
• Living History Presentation
• Orientation
• Journal and Reflection Time
• Refreshments
• Monday—Philadelphia
• Breakfast
• Tour Colonial Philadelphia
• United States Mint
• Picnic Lunch at Edgar Allan Poe House
• Franklin Institute
• Free Time
• Dinner
• Living History Presentation
• Journal and Reflection Time
• Refreshments

9. Schedule cont.
• Tuesday—New York City
• Breakfast and departure
– Battery Park
– Ground Zero
• Picnic Lunch in Bryant Park
• Fifth Avenue Shopping
• Times Square
• Dinner – Ellen’s Stardust Cafe
• Return to the Freedoms Foundation
• Reflection and Journal Time
• Wednesday—Washington DC
• Breakfast
• Depart for Washington DC
• Tour Smithsonian
• Picnic Lunch
• Guided Tour of Washington
• - Capitol
• - National Archives
• - Supreme Court
• Dinner
• Tour Memorials
• Check-into Hotel

10. Schedule cont.
• Thursday—Washington DC
• Load Buses
• Breakfast
• Meet Congressman Duncan Hunter
• Tour Ford’s Theater
• Tour White House
• Lunch—Union Station
• Tour FBI Building
• Dinner
• Departure
• Friday—Valley Forge
• Breakfast
• Tour Valley Forge National Park
• Picnic Lunch
• Philadelphia
• Depart for home

11. Living History
Presenters
After dinner, and before bed each night there is a presenter
that comes to life as there character. Students then
journal nightly about what they have learned that day.
• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• Alexander Hamilton
• Abigail Adams
• Benjamin Franklin
• Harriet Tubman
• Dolly Madison

12. Objective
• Students travel on foot (mainly in NYC) and will use a
compass to guide them on their expedition, and will
Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
•
New York City is ____ of Philadelphia.
• Ford’s theatre is _____ of The White House.
• Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is _____ of Times Square.
• Edgar Allan Poe House is _____ of United States Mint.