Homeschooling: End of the Year Document Memorization

It’s nearing the end of the school year. In the Boyer household, it's time for document memorization. Normally, Scripture is what we work on for memorization, but each year before the kids are considered "done" for the summer, I require them to memorize parts of our founding documents. We start with young children with the American's Creed.

The American's Creed

by William Tyler Page

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.

–Written 1917, accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.

Tuck learned it when he was about 7 years old and we review it every year.

Another document is the Preamble to the Constitution. In our day, when the Constitution is under attack, we must familiarize our children with it.

This I have my children learn at about age 9 or 10 and review it every year.

Another one they learn and then review every year is the First Amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This year, Tuck, age 16 added to his collection the Second Amendment:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the

people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be

infringed.

Also, they learn and review the states and capitals. We use a floor puzzle to help the younger kids learn these

Then, of course we review the Presidents of the United States. We use a floor puzzle and also, Fandex presidents to learn these

Another GREAT resource for even your preschoolers is Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By! It teaches children through song about our constitutional form of government. I had two year olds walking around singing about check and balances and George Washington and King George!

Don't miss the opportunity we have as homeschoolers to teach the founding documents to them. We must know and understand them if we wish to retain our freedoms in this land!!

It used to be required in our public schools every year that students had to read George Washington's Farewell Address. Read it and you'll find out why the public schools no longer teach it-because of it's reference to and reliance on our Creator. I have started having my kids read it every year. William Henry Harrisons's inaugural address is excellent too. I just discovered that one myself from a DVD on America's Christian history. Enjoy learning together the truly great heritage we have in this country!!