Patriotic Activities for Kids: Free Printables, Worksheets and Activities
Looking for patriotic activities for kids that don’t involve buying a cart full of red, white and blue craft supplies you’ll find in a closet three years from now?
Whether you’re planning for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Presidents Day or just teaching kids about the United States, I’ve put together some of my favorite patriotic printables, worksheets and activities from A Day in our Shoes.
And these aren’t just for little kids. There are activities here for a wide range of ages, from coloring pages for younger kids to writing prompts, geography worksheets and family outings for older kids and teens.
So bookmark this one. You’ll probably find a reason to come back to it.
Patriotic Activities for Kids of All Ages
Free American Symbols Worksheets
Best for: Preschool and elementary school
When to use them: Presidents Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Constitution Day, Veterans Day, homeschool or U.S. history and social studies lessons
The bald eagle. The American flag. The Statue of Liberty. Kids see these symbols everywhere, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know what they are or why they’re important.
These free American Symbols Worksheets give kids a simple, printable way to learn about important symbols of the United States.
Free 4th of July Color by Number Pages
Best for: Preschool and elementary school
When to use them: 4th of July, summer school, summer camp, quiet time, family gatherings or summer learning
Want a 4th of July activity that’s basically print-and-go?
These free 4th of July Color by Number Pages give kids a little more structure than a regular coloring page while still keeping things easy.
They’re great for younger kids who enjoy coloring, number recognition and activities with a clear beginning and end.
Free 4th of July Coloring Pages
Best for: Preschool and elementary school
When to use them: 4th of July, summer school, summer camp, family parties, restaurants and quiet time
Sometimes you just need an activity that requires a printer and some crayons.
These 4th of July Coloring Pages are an easy activity for home, school or a summer program.
They’re also a nice option for kids who may not enjoy every part of a big July 4 celebration. Fireworks, crowds, heat, mosquitoes…ahhh, summer memories.
Print a few pages and let kids participate at their own pace.
Veterans Day Writing Prompts
Best for: Elementary through high school
When to use them: Veterans Day, November writing assignments, homeschool lessons or classroom discussions
Veterans Day can easily become another school day when kids know there’s a holiday but don’t necessarily understand why.
These free Veterans Day Writing Prompts give kids a chance to think and write about veterans and the meaning of the day.
There are free printable PDFs included, so teachers and parents can easily add them to a lesson or activity.
Free Veterans Day Worksheets
Best for: Elementary and middle school
When to use them: Veterans Day, November classroom activities, homeschool, history lessons or independent work
If you want something a little more structured than the writing prompts, grab these free Veterans Day Worksheets.
They’re an easy way to add a Veterans Day activity at home or school without spending Sunday night creating an entire lesson from scratch.
Because you know what November really doesn’t need? One more thing on your to-do list.
Use these alongside the Veterans Day writing prompts, or pick whichever activity works best for your child or students.
Activities to Teach Kids to Value Freedom, Voting, and Community
Best for: Parents and caregivers of kids of all ages
When to use it: Anytime
Patriotism is about much more than flags, fireworks and wearing matching red, white and blue shirts once a year.
In Activities to Teach Kids to Value Freedom, Voting, and Community, I talk about ways families can teach children about their country, community and what it means to participate in both.
This is less of a “print this worksheet” activity and more of a resource for parents who want to make these conversations part of everyday life.
Free 50 States Coloring Book Printable
Best for: Preschool and elementary school
When to use it: Geography units, homeschool, summer learning, road trips, quiet time or patriotic activities
If your kid would rather color than fill in a worksheet, start here.
This free 50 States Coloring Book Printable gives kids a fun way to become familiar with all 50 states without making it feel quite so much like a geography lesson.
Use the pages as you learn about each state, print a few before a road trip, or work your way through the entire country.
Free 50 States Trace It, Write It and Color It Pages
Best for: Preschool and elementary school
When to use them: Geography lessons, homeschool, road trips, state studies and summer learning
Kids can learn the states while practicing handwriting and coloring with these 50 States Trace It, Write It and Color It Pages.
You can work through all 50 states or just print the states that matter to your family.
Going on a road trip? Print the states you’re visiting.
Visiting grandparents in another state? Print that one.
50 States and Capitals Worksheets
Best for: Elementary and middle school
When to use them: Geography units, test prep, homeschool and summer review
At some point, most kids encounter the states and capitals.
And yes, at some point most adults realize they’ve forgotten a few of them.
These free States and Capitals Worksheets give kids printable practice with all 50 states and their capitals.
They’re useful for classroom practice, homeschool lessons or extra review at home.
Free 50 States Fill-in-the-Blank Worksheets
Best for: Elementary and middle school
When to use them: Geography review, independent work, homeschool or extra practice
If your child is ready to move beyond tracing and coloring, try these 50 States Worksheets.
The free fill-in-the-blank PDFs give kids another way to practice what they know about the United States.
Free Printable Presidents Worksheets
Best for: Elementary through middle school
When to use them: Presidents Day, history units, homeschool or U.S. government lessons
Presidents Day is the obvious time to pull these out, but they’re useful anytime kids are learning American history.
My Free Printable Presidents Worksheets help kids learn about the lives and legacies of American presidents.
You can use them as part of a larger history lesson, for independent research or as a starting point for learning more about a particular president.
Visit Sensory-Friendly Philadelphia
Best for: Families and kids of all ages
When to use it: Family outings, weekends, school breaks, summer vacation or a Philadelphia trip
Not every learning activity needs to happen at a table.
If you’re in or visiting the Philadelphia area, check out my guide to Sensory Friendly Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is packed with American history, museums and family attractions. For families with disabled and neurodivergent kids, however, knowing what sensory-friendly options are available can make the difference between a fun family outing and…well, not one.
Use the guide when planning your trip so you can find options that work better for your family.
Where to See Fireworks in Chester County, Delaware and Philadelphia
Best for: Families and kids of all ages
When to use it: Late June and the 4th of July
If you’re local to southeastern Pennsylvania, I’ve also put together a guide to Where to See Fireworks in Chester County, Delaware and Philadelphia.
Check it when you’re planning your July 4 festivities and looking for fireworks or community celebrations around the Philadelphia region.
Of course, fireworks aren’t fun for everyone. They’re loud. Really loud. If your child doesn’t enjoy them, you do not have to force a “fun family memory.”
Watching from farther away, using hearing protection or skipping them entirely are all options.
When Can You Use These Patriotic Activities?
One of the nice things about this collection is that you don’t have to save it for the 4th of July.
Pull it out throughout the year for:
- Presidents Day: Presidents worksheets, states and capitals and U.S. geography activities.
- Memorial Day: Patriotic coloring pages and age-appropriate family discussions.
- 4th of July: Coloring pages, geography activities and local fireworks planning.
- Veterans Day: Veterans Day writing prompts and discussions.
- Road trips: Print the state pages for every state you’ll travel through.
- Homeschool and classroom geography units: Use the states, capitals and fill-in-the-blank worksheets together.
- Summer learning: Sneak in some geography and handwriting practice without making summer feel quite so much like school.
- Family travel: Use the Philadelphia resources when you’re planning an accessible or sensory-friendly outing.
More Patriotic Fun Without Making It Complicated
You don’t need an elaborate craft, themed snack and perfectly coordinated lesson plan to teach kids about the United States.
Sometimes it’s a conversation, sometimes it’s a worksheet. And sometimes it’s visiting a historical site.
And sometimes it’s handing your kid a coloring page because everyone needs 20 quiet minutes.
Pick the resources that work for your child, their age and what you’re already doing. Save the rest for another day.