ClassX Video Lessons Statue of Liberty Facts for Kids | Learn all about this famous national monument
Have you ever heard of a famous statue in the United States that was a gift from France? Here’s a clue: it’s often called “Lady Liberty.” Yes, it’s the Statue of Liberty! Let’s learn some exciting facts about it.
The Statue of Liberty’s real name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.” It was created to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. A French artist named Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed it. He also helped gather money to build it and picked New York Harbor as its home. Building the statue cost about five hundred thousand dollars back then, which is like 14 million dollars today. That’s a lot of money!
Even though Bartholdi designed it, the idea for the statue came from a French man named Édouard René de Laboulaye, who wanted to end slavery. Here’s a fun fact: the inside of the statue was built by Gustave Eiffel, the same person who made the Eiffel Tower. Isn’t that cool?
The statue was made in pieces over nine years. Then, it was taken apart, shipped to the United States, and put back together in New York Harbor. This took six months and was finished on October 28, 1886. The statue weighs about 225 tons, and with its base, it’s about 305 feet tall, like a 30-story building! It was once the tallest building in New York City.
To show how big the statue is, here are some fun facts: the head is about 17 feet tall, the nose is four and a half feet long, the right arm is 42 feet long, and the index finger is eight feet long.
The outside of the statue is made of copper, so it used to be brown. Now, it’s green because the copper changed color after being in the air and water. The copper layer is very thin, like the thickness of two pennies!
The Statue of Liberty is based on a Roman goddess named Libertas, who stands for Liberty and Freedom. The statue has many symbols. The broken chains at its feet show the end of unfair rule, meaning people can be free. The torch at the top always stays lit and stands for Liberty’s light spreading around the world. The seven spikes on the crown represent the seven seas and continents. The tablet in Lady Liberty’s left hand stands for the law, with the date July 4, 1776, written on it, which is when the United States was founded.
The Statue of Liberty is one of the world’s most famous statues and a symbol of Liberty and peace. That’s why over 4 million people visit it each year. Maybe you’ve seen Lady Liberty up close, or maybe you’ll visit one day. Now you have some fun facts to share with your family and friends!
Hope you enjoyed learning with us!
Build Your Own Mini Statue: Gather some modeling clay or playdough and try to create your own version of the Statue of Liberty. Think about the different parts you learned about, like the torch, the crown with seven spikes, and the tablet. As you build, imagine what it would be like to be Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designing the statue. Share your creation with your family and explain the symbols you included.
Color Change Experiment: The Statue of Liberty turned green because of a chemical reaction with the air and water. You can see a similar reaction at home! Take a few pennies and place them in a small bowl. Pour some vinegar over them and watch what happens over a few hours or days. Observe how the color changes and think about why the statue changed color. Discuss with your family why the statue’s green color is important.
Liberty Symbols Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or neighborhood to find symbols of freedom and liberty. Look for things like flags, eagles, or other statues. Take pictures or draw what you find. Talk with your family about why these symbols are important and how they remind us of freedom, just like the Statue of Liberty does.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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**Statue of Liberty Facts for Kids**
Do you know what famous monument in the United States was a gift from France? Here’s a hint: one of its nicknames is “Lady Liberty.” Yup, it is the Statue of Liberty! Today, we are going to learn more about it.
Starting with this: the Statue of Liberty’s official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World,” and it was designed to honor the end of enslavement in the United States. The designer of this statue was a French sculptor named Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. He also helped raise money to build it and chose New York Harbor for its display. It cost about five hundred thousand dollars to build, which would be equal to around 14 million dollars today. That is a lot of money!
Even though Bartholdi designed it, the original idea for the statue came from a French anti-slavery activist named Édouard René de Laboulaye. Here’s an interesting fact: the inside of the statue was built by Gustave Eiffel, who is the same person who built the Eiffel Tower. Pretty cool, right?
The statue was built in pieces over the course of about nine years. Then it had to be taken apart, shipped to the United States, and reconstructed, where it now resides in New York Harbor. Reconstruction took six months and was completed on October 28, 1886. It weighs around 225 tons, and counting its pedestal, the Statue of Liberty is about 305 feet tall. That is about the size of a 30-story building! In fact, it was once the tallest building in New York City.
Just to give you an idea of how huge the statue is, here are some fascinating stats: the head of the statue is about 17 feet tall, the nose is about four and a half feet long, the right arm is 42 feet long, and the index finger is eight feet long.
Here’s another interesting fact: the outer layer of the statue is made of copper, which means that it used to be a brownish color. Today, the exterior is green because the copper has oxidized and been exposed to water and air. This copper layer is so thin that it is about the same thickness as two pennies!
The Statue of Liberty itself is modeled after a Roman goddess named Libertas, which means Liberty and Freedom. This is what the statue as a whole was meant to symbolize, but there are other symbols all over the statue too. The broken chains near the feet of the statue represent the end of tyranny, meaning that the government will not take away people’s freedom. The torch at the top of the statue always stays lit and symbolizes the value of Liberty and its light spreading across the world. The seven spikes of the crown represent the seven seas and seven continents of the world. The tablet that Lady Liberty holds in her left hand symbolizes the law; it has the Roman numerals for July 4, 1776, written on it, which is the date that the United States was founded.
Talk about some cool facts! Let’s review:
– True or False: The Statue of Liberty was built all at one time in one big piece.
– **False**: The statue was built in pieces over a period of nine years.
– Fill in the blank: One of the nicknames for the Statue of Liberty is Lady ______.
– **Liberty**.
– What date is inscribed on the tablet in the statue’s arms?
– **July 4, 1776**.
Great job, friends! The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous statues in the world and a symbol of Liberty and peace for many people. That is why over 4 million tourists come to visit it each year. Maybe you have already seen Lady Liberty up close, or maybe one day you will be able to visit. Either way, you now know some fun new information that you can share with your family and friends.
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a clear, educational tone.
