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Statue of Liberty Mini Unit Study

Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed people to America from its home on Liberty Island in the New York Harbor. A famous poem by poet Emma Lazarus is nearby on a plaque – the most famous of the poem’s lines read:

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The statue has gone from a gift from one nation to another (the statue was given to the United States from France) to one of the most iconic representations of freedom and liberty. It is one of the most visited landmarks in New York City, although the interior of the statue and the crown on top has been closed to visitors since September 11, 2001.

In this mini unit study, you can: read all about the Statue of Liberty in a historical handbook from the National Park Service, learn quick facts about the Statue of Liberty, look at a photo gallery, view a live webcam of the statue, meet the people who made the statue possible, learn about the statue’s symbolism and create a stand-up version of the statue out of paper.

Reading

Historical handbook to Statue of Liberty (published in 1954):

Historical handbook

Quick facts on the Statue of Liberty:

Quick facts

Multimedia

Photo gallery from the National Park Service :

NPS photo gallery

Graphical timeline of Statue of Liberty:

Statue of Liberty timeline

Live webcam of the statue:

Libertycam

Assignments and Projects

Meet the people who made the statue possible:

Meet the people w/quiz

Complete lesson plan on the Statue of Liberty’s symbolism (upper elementary and middle school):

Statue of Liberty lesson plan

Create a stand-up paper cut-out of the statue:

Statue cut-out

Recommended Resource

The Story of the Statue of Liberty

At last, an outstanding picture book on the Statue of Liberty. Although Maestro simplifies the story including only the most important people's names, for example she still presents an accurate account of what happened. The exceptional drawings are visually delightful primarily in the blue-green range, although they are in full color and cover most of every page. Human figures - workers, tourists - are included in many drawings, indicating the statue's tremendous scale.

Further, the drawings involve viewers through the use of unusual perspectives and angles and by placing the statue in scenes of city life. One depicts Bartholdi sketching the statue in the foreground as he gazes at its future site on Bedloe's Island. Another is of cranes and cables supporting laborers as they put Lady Liberty's immense cloak in place over her steel frame. (School Library Journal)

Authors: Betsy Maestro
Amazon Price: $6.99

Read more about the book on Amazon