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Statue of Liberty Torch

  • History & Social Studies
  • Pre-K
  • Kindergarten
  • Grades 1-3

Celebrate the 4th of July while waving the Statue of Liberty's torch. Made with simple recycled materials, the flame really glitters!

Materials

  • 25 Pack Assorted Paint Brushes
  • Rainbow Fuzzy Sticks
  • Acrylic Paint Jars, 24 Assorted colors
  • Craft Glue
  • Pencil
  • Cardboard Tube
  • Paper Cup

Instructions

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

 

 

Step 2.

 

Cut the top off the paper cup so that it is about 3” to 4” deep.

 

Step 3.

 

Use the sharpened end of the pencil to punch holes through the bottom of the cup.

 

Step 4.

 

Cut 2” from the bottom of the cardboard tube.

 

Step 5.

 

Make slits about 1” apart and ½” deep around the end of the tube. Fold the cut edges down, as shown.

 

Step 6.

 

Paint the tube and the inside and outside of the cup.  We mixed a blue-green paint with white to match the color of the statue of liberty.  For the inside of the cup, we used a dark brown. Let dry.

 

Step 7.

 

To make the flame for the torch, start by threading a red Glitter Stick through 2 holes in the bottom of the cup.

 

Step 8.

 

Continue adding gold and red glitter sticks and yellow fuzzy sticks through the holes in the cup until the flame looks full.  Bend and shape the fuzzy sticks to look like flames.

 

Step 9.

 

Glue the cardboard tube to the cup using the cut flaps created in step 5 for gluing.

 

Step 10.

 

To finish, use the green glitter glue to draw designs around the torch.

 


Teacher's Corner

Upcycle household items to create the Statue of Liberty’s torch for a class party or neighborhood parade!

Lesson Objectives

  • Free To Recycle: Recycling cardboard tubes and paper cups teaches a valuable lesson. Cutting, painting, and piecing materials together gives students a chance to think about what they can repurpose at home! What other Statue of Liberty symbols can they make with household items — a paper plate crown perhaps?
  • Lighting the Way: The official name of the statue is “Liberty Enlightening the World,” which is why Lady Liberty is holding a flaming torch high in her right hand. As the class works on their fuzzy stick flames, brainstorm ideas on what she is lighting the way towards — freedom, opportunity, the pursuit of happiness?

Follow-up Discussion

The Statue of Liberty’s torch, crown, and robe each represent something different. Pull up a picture of the statue and have the students describe what they see — then, explore the meaning behind each symbol!