How to Immerse Your Little Patriots in American History This Summer
June 19, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
by Tabitha Walter, Executive Director, Eagle Forum
On the brink of the 250th celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Trump administration is initiating programs to teach our nation’s true history and foster patriotism.
President Trump has already taken steps to ensure our children are not learning a “woke” version of our history and that our historical markers and monuments are preserved with integrity. With summer break underway, there is no better time to immerse young learners in the events that made America an exceptional nation.
On March 27th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. The document begins: “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” The order then directs the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that historical monuments, memorials, statues, and museums adhere to factual information “that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.”
This goes hand-in-hand with the previous action that the President took to end indoctrination in public schools and reinstate the 1776 Commission (that he created during his first term and was disbanded by President Biden) to promote “patriotic education.”
Patriotic Resources to Teach Kids Our History
We have put together a list of patriotic resources from the White House and others to help you and your family prepare for our Nation’s 249th birthday this year, and 250th in 2026.
White House Summer Reading Challenge
First, the White House kicked off summer break with the Summer Reading Challenge, which is an initiative of Second Lady Usha Vance. Between June 1 and September 5, children in kindergarten through 8th grade can log twelve books they have read, and their parents can submit the list to the White House for a chance to win prizes — including a trip to Washington, D.C.
White House “America’s Road Trip” Contest
If you know children in grades 3-12 who love to create artwork, write essays, or take pictures, the White House has a contest for them. The competition called “America’s Road Trip” invites students to share what America means to them through these different media. Winners can receive cash or a trip to their favorite landmark. The contest is not currently open yet for the 2025-2026 school year, but summer break is the perfect time to get started! You can sign up for updates here.
Virtual Field Trips
Even if you cannot physically travel to historic landmarks this summer, there are plenty of virtual field trips in which your student can participate. The websites for George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello contain interactive tools and videos to explore the architecture of their homes, how they conducted their day-to-day lives, and their contributions to our nation. Our Student Eagles will be visiting Monticello this weekend at the 5th Annual Student Eagle Leadership Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia!
Your family can virtually travel to other places across the nation as well. The National Park Service has endless activities that allow you to explore our beautiful lands and historical monuments. On their website, students can see the Liberty Bell, visit Independence Hall, and tour the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They can learn about the Freedom Trail, the Underground Railroad, and the American Revolution in Boston, Massachusetts. If they want to see more of Washington, D.C., they can learn about the grand tributes to American leaders such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials, and more.
Military History
For the kid who loves learning about our military and the wars that have sustained our freedoms, there are online programs through Arlington National Cemetery and the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Museum. They can also virtually visit various war memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans, Korean War, World War I, and World War II memorials.
American History
To get a full array of American history, from the founding to modern times, the National Museum of American History has everything from art to technology to fashion. In the same vein, the websites of the Library of Congress and National Archives have original letters, maps, photos, and more throughout the course of our history. They often host concerts and workshops that can be watched online. You may even be able to trace your family tree through their records.
Be forewarned – not all these resources are completely “woke-free” yet, despite the Administration’s commitment to eliminating the DEI ideology that was allowed to permeate every aspect of government over the last four years.
Prager U Resources
One organization that IS a true beacon of light for sound educational materials is Prager U. Founded by Dennis Prager, they began by creating short videos explaining our Constitutional rights, American history, and current events. Then, they created PragerU Kids that breaks down that information for younger minds. PragerU Kids has a video series called TBH (To Be Honest) History that explains significant moments in history based on facts. They also have a kids’ book section where you can find reading materials on historical leaders and events.
Eagle Forum Resources
If you have teenagers who are looking for a good summer read, Eagle Forum has a variety of books available. One historical figure whose legacy continues today is Eagle Forum’s founder, Phyllis Schlafly. Her daughter, Anne Schlafly, authored Lessons in Leadership to give an account of her mother’s inspirational leadership in the pro-family movement. Phyllis has authored books as well. Her most popular title is A Choice, Not an Echo, which has inspired countless people to get involved in preserving our nation’s founding. To teach us all more about the Constitution in an entertaining manner, Anne Schlafly has authored Is Our Constitution in Jeopardy. This book incorporates a fun question-and-answer style format to test the Constitutional knowledge of our young (and not-so-young) Americans.
53rd Eagle Council
We want to offer you and your students the opportunity to see many of these landmarks and historical sites in person as well. Eagle Forum will be holding our 53rd Eagle Council in Washington, D.C., from September 8-11. During this time, attendees will learn about current issues from experts, engage our elected officials face-to-face, and visit the sites that have made America an exceptional nation. For more information, visit our website here. We hope to see you there!
Tabitha Walter is the Washington, D.C. Executive Director for Eagle Forum. She focuses on conservative policy issues and federal election endorsements for Eagle Forum PAC.