Developed by Anna I.
Edited by Miranda C.
Essential Question
How does the Statue of Liberty represent the values of the United States of America?
Background Knowledge
Students will need to know about the Statue of Liberty (where it came from and why we have it)
Students should know what a symbol and monument is.
Students should know that The New Colossus is the poem written on the Statue of Liberty’s tablet.
Materials
- Printouts of Statue of Liberty
- Copy of the The New Colossus (listed below in “Resources”)
- Toilet paper/ paper towel roll
- Scissors
- Paper
- Markers
- Pencils
- Tape
Safety Protocol
Students should be careful when using scissors.
Activity Procedures
Step 1: Gather the items listed in the materials section.
What type of people are welcome to America according to The New Colossus?
Step 2: Look at photo of the Statue of Liberty. What emotions is she showing? How is she dressed? What is she doing? Write some words to describe what she is doing on a piece of paper.
What message would you want to send to people wanting to come to America?
Step 3: Read the The New Colossus. Who do you think she is speaking to? How do you think they feel when reading this poem?
How does the Statue of Liberty represent America’s relationship with other countries?
Step 4: Think about what you would write to people coming to America. What would you say? For this activity, you’ll be writing your own poem. Like Lady Liberty, you will be writing to welcome someone into your home, your bedroom, or another special space that you have. How would you want someone to feel when welcomed into your space? Safe. Hope. Kindness. Warmth. Special. Find words to represent how you want your guests and yourself to feel.
How do you want people to feel when they come to America? Why?
How can you make sure they know you feel that way?
Step 5: After you have written your poem, you are going to construct a torch, just like Lady Liberty has! You will be creating a torch to represent the feelings that you wrote about in your poem. First, write a few important words from your poem on a piece of construction paper.
Step 6: Next, cut your construction paper into shapes that look like flames. Cut out the words from the construction paper and paste them on the flames.
Step 7: Grab the paper towel tube. This will be used as a handle for the torch. Now, tape the flames to the end of the paper towel tube.
Step 8: You have just made your torch! Now, you can welcome your guests with a poem and a torch, just like Lady Liberty.
Step 6: With parent/guardian permission, share the results of your activity on social media using #AUHomeWorks!
Resources:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
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!”
Resources
Link to the image of the Statue of Liberty: https://library.artstor.org/public/SS33119_33119_13785408
Reference
Bartholdi, Frédéric Auguste (French sculptor, 1834-1904). (1886, Image:pre-2013). Statue of Liberty, General view from the water. [sculpture (visual work); colossi]. https://library.artstor.org/asset/SS33119_33119_13785408