Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.
That, as you might recognize, is the inscription on our 2,080-pound national treasure, the Liberty Bell. There are many myths and misconceptions in US history, some of which involve this famous symbol. According to the National Park Service, the State House bell, as it was first called, rang in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House. The bell, ordered from and delivered by the Whitechapel Foundry in London, cracked the very first time it was rung.
A principle misconception involving the bell is how it first got its name. Many Americans believe it is in reference to its quote that proclaims liberty for all. Other Americans think it represents the liberty that stemmed from the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Still others believe it is in recognition of America winning her freedom from Britain. All good assumptions, yet all wrong.
In this free Simple Solutions lesson, upper elementary and middle school students learn the origin of the bell’s name. Surprisingly, it came decades after the American Revolution during a time, not unlike today, of great civil unrest. For more about the Liberty Bell, check out the links below.
Liberty Bell podcast: a brief description of the bell and its history
Sound of the Liberty Bell: an approximation of the sound made by the bell when struck by its clapper
Independence Park Institute booklet: a wealth of lesson plans and rubrics for all grade levels along with writing prompts, worksheets, graphic organizers, political cartoons, primary source documents, timelines, and internet links.
Prepare for the next school year!
Summer Solutions offers kids the ability to review the skills that they were taught during this school year. That way when they return to school in a few weeks or even next fall, they will be ready to continue right where they left off.
