The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France in 1885 to recognize the French-American

cooperation during the American Revolution (War of Independence against Britain in 1776).

It stands 93 meters (305 feet) high in New York Harbor.

The seven rays on her crown represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world.

Look at a map with the children and find the seven continents and the seven seas.

Why do you think New York Harbor was chosen for the statue?

Click here for more history of the statue.

Do you and the children know where their families lived before they moved to the United States?

Ask your host parents to tell you about their family history. Explore the history with the children.

Make a family tree or find a book about the country where their family once lived.

Zoo and Aquarium Month

Visit your local zoo or aquarium or set up a pretend zoo with play animals and blocks. Invite the host parents to visit your pretend zoo. Read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish or If I Ran the Zoo, both by Dr. Seuss. Encourage the children to make up their own animals and draw them. Think of all the animal sounds you can and play a game guessing what animal you are. You may find that the same animal says one thing in America and something quite different in your own country!

Find out more about the National Zoo at  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/