Slide 1 The Statue of Liberty Have you ever seen or heard of the Statue of Liberty? What do you know about it? She stands on an island in New York Harbor with a torch held high in one hand. From head to toe, she is as tall as a 15-story building. Her skin is made of copper, and she weighs thousands of pounds. Her nose alone is about as long as you are tall! Who is she? She is the Statue of Liberty. She has greeted people coming to the United States for over one hundred and twenty years. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous statues in the world. It was a gift to the people of America from the people of France. The statue was built to celebrate the friendship between the two countries. But today the statue stands for much more. Today the statue is a symbol of freedom and liberty for all people.

Slide 2 The Statue of Liberty (Cont.) People have been coming to the United States from other countries for hundreds of years. They come here to work, to raise families, and to make new homes. They have varied backgrounds, and they speak many different languages. These people are called immigrants. At one time, most immigrants traveled to the United States on ships that sailed across the ocean. As they entered New York Harbor for the first time, the immigrants saw the Statue of Liberty. The towering statue seemed to be welcoming them to their new home. Long ago, many immigrants had to stop at Ellis Island, an island very close to the Statue of Liberty. At Ellis Island, immigrants were given a health exam and their papers were checked. Then if everything was in order, they were free to start their new life in the United States. Over 12 million people came into the United States this way. Today Ellis Island is no longer a stop for immigrants. It is now a national monument with a museum that gives information about what life was like for the immigrants who came to America long ago.

Slide 3 The Statue of Liberty (Cont.) Because the Statue of Liberty was one of the first things people saw when they entered the United States, it has long been connected to immigrants and their journey to America. Emma Lazarus, a woman who helped raise money for the statue, wrote a poem in which the statue welcomes all people to America. The poem is called “The New Colossus.” (A colossus is a huge statue.) The poem includes the famous lines: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” People sometimes think that the poem is printed on the tablet that the Statue of Liberty holds in her left hand. It is not. Emma Lazarus’ poem appears on a plaque that is on display in an exhibit at the bottom of the statue. The exhibit also includes other information about the history of the statue. So what does the tablet in the statue’s left hand really say? It gives the date of the American Declaration of Independence in Roman numerals. That date is July 4, 1776.

Slide 4 The Statue of Liberty (Cont.) In 1984, some important work began on the Statue of Liberty. The statue was closed so that workers could clean it and make it stronger. The old torch was taken down, and a new torch was put up in its place. The old torch was lit from inside, but the new torch has thin sheets of gold on the flame. When light shines on the golden flame, it looks like it is burning. Today immigrants still come to the United States in great numbers. Some move here from Canada and Mexico. Others arrive in planes and boats from around the world. The new immigrants bring with them customs from the lands in which they were born. These customs help make America a unique and special place to live. Although the Statue of Liberty is no longer the first thing that most immigrants see when they arrive in America, the statue is still a symbol of freedom and liberty. She reminds us of what makes America great, and she still welcomes all people to our land. Unit 1, Week 5 The Statue of Liberty 1. What holiday custom do you most enjoy? 2. Where is a good place in school to hold an art exhibit? 3. How does your teacher greet you in the morning? 4. Where would you go if you could take a journey to any place in the world? What would you do there? 5. Do you think children should have the liberty to choose their own clothes? Why or why not? 6. What do you have at home that reminds you of what you were like when you were younger? 7. What symbol represents the United States of America? 8. Why would someone use a torch? 9. Where can you go to see towering buildings? 10. Why is it good that your classmates have varied backgrounds? How does that make the class interesting?