Friday marks a life-changing milestone for 50 people who now get to call themselves American citizens. They came from 20 different countries with their own story, their own journey, and now they get to share this moment of belonging.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 20
NY Historical Museum: The Constitution // The Citizenship Project [E07]
This is the fourth class of our new semester.
- Future Citizenship: How Long and How Many Questions in the Present Perfect 138-139; The Constitutional Convention 15-18
- 04 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- Dates quiz
- I-class-4 quiz
- Preparing for the Oath: Writing the Constitution
Learn more:
- US Citizenship Resources for Black History post
- US Citizenship Resources for Presidents' Day post
- VOA Learning English: US Constitution
Originally posted Feb 26, 2025
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 19
NY Historical: The Citizenship Project: The Declaration of Independence
For those taking the U.S. Citizenship test, knowing and understanding the importance of the Declaration of Independence is essential.This is the third class of our new semester.
- Future Citizenship: Yes/No Questions in the Present Perfect 136-137; The Declaration of Independence 11-14
- 03 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- Places quiz
- Nithya Deepak: Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs for Independence Day pdf
- Preparing for the Oath: Establishing Independence
Learn more:
Summer Citizenship Lesson 18
History: The Founding of the 13 Colonies
The U.S. is 50 states strong today, but it began as 13 small colonies. Can you name them?This is the second class of our new semester. Welcome new students!
- Future Citizenship: Tag Questions pg 135-136; American Revolution 7-10
- 02 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- History Names and Positions quiz
- Citizenship Quiz 2
- Preparing for the Oath: Establishing Independence
Originally posted Feb 5, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 17
USCIS: Apply for Citizenship Online: How to File Your Application for Naturalization Online
On August 28, 2024 USCIS posted a new video: Apply for Citizenship Online: How to File Your Application for Naturalization Online which illustrates how to complete and submit Form N-400 2024, Application for Naturalization through your USCIS Online Account. Kudos USCIS!This is the first class of our new semester. Welcome new students!
- 01 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- Civic Names and Positions quiz
- Citizenship Quiz 1
- Future Citizenship: Yes/No Questions pg 132; Early America pg 3-6
Originally posted Jan 22, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 16
Learn English with VOA News: US Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Honored
Classroom:
- Residence and Voting plus Quiz 15: Civil Rights
- Pearson ELT USA Team: UPDATED Naturalization Speaking Test from Voices of Freedom by Bill Bliss. pg 227-233
- Voices of Freedom: Ch 12: Citizens Rights and Responsibilities
- Preparing for the Oath: Responsibilities (homework)
- 14 USCIS Questions in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This quiz matches 14 USCIS civics questions with speeches and events from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who worked for equality for all Americans and for all those who thirst for peace and justice throughout the world mp3 and pdf - A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r of Juah Sarwee from Fish Town, Liberia plus 10qs about US Geography and Symbols (2017) pdf
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony
In the seats of the Roebbelen Center, Roseville CA, hundreds of people from 57 different counties became American citizens just days before Independence Day.
The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Fredrick Douglass
uscitizenpod: Fredrick Douglass and Independence
Happy Independence Day Week! Today we will listen to an old podcast from uscitizenpod: USCIS 100:99 July 4th, Slavery, and Fredrick Douglass
We will first read about Q99 from the USCIS M638 quick civics lesson. Then we will discuss the Declaration of Independence, the Compromise of 1850, and abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. Then we will listen to a short reading from Fredrick Douglass speech: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” Note that Negro was a common term for Black or African-Americans, but it is not often used today. Let's get started.
DOWNLOAD MP3
excerpt from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Fredrick Douglass
What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?
I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim.
To him, your celebration is a sham;
your boasted liberty, an unholy license;
your national greatness, swelling vanity;
your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless;
your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence;
your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery;
your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings,
with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast,
fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages...
TimelessReader1: Meaning of July 4th for the Negro - Frederick Douglass Speech - Hear the Text
Listen to and read text from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, written by abolitionist and former slave: Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass presented this speech on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, NY. This speech concludes with a poem, a peace prayer, written by William Lloyd Garrison
For more info:
See zinnedproject.org: Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
Watch actor Danny Glover read abolitionist Frederick Douglass's "Fourth of July Speech, 1852" on October 5, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Part of a reading from Voices of a People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove.)
NPR: ‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?’: Descendants Read Frederick Douglass' Speech
The U.S. celebrates this Independence Day amid nationwide protests and calls for systemic reforms. In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans.
We will first read about Q99 from the USCIS M638 quick civics lesson. Then we will discuss the Declaration of Independence, the Compromise of 1850, and abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. Then we will listen to a short reading from Fredrick Douglass speech: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” Note that Negro was a common term for Black or African-Americans, but it is not often used today. Let's get started.
DOWNLOAD MP3
excerpt from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Fredrick Douglass
What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?
I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim.
To him, your celebration is a sham;
your boasted liberty, an unholy license;
your national greatness, swelling vanity;
your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless;
your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence;
your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery;
your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings,
with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast,
fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages...
TimelessReader1: Meaning of July 4th for the Negro - Frederick Douglass Speech - Hear the Text
Listen to and read text from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, written by abolitionist and former slave: Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass presented this speech on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, NY. This speech concludes with a poem, a peace prayer, written by William Lloyd Garrison
For more info:
See zinnedproject.org: Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
Watch actor Danny Glover read abolitionist Frederick Douglass's "Fourth of July Speech, 1852" on October 5, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Part of a reading from Voices of a People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove.)
NPR: ‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?’: Descendants Read Frederick Douglass' Speech
The U.S. celebrates this Independence Day amid nationwide protests and calls for systemic reforms. In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans.
Friday, July 4, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 15--INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Classroom:
- Pearson ELT USA Team: UPDATED Naturalization Speaking Test from Voices of Freedom by Bill Bliss. pg 227-233
- Voices of Freedom: Ch 12: Citizens Rights and Responsibilities
- Preparing for the Oath: Responsibilities (homework)
- American History and Integrated Civics Questions (USCIS 100:58-100) for the Naturalization Test
More Resources
- Happy Independence Day! (many resources for July 4)
- Venture Arcade (click CITIZENSHIP on the upper right corner)
Originally published Jan 8, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Summer Citizenship Lesson 14
New York Historical: Oath of Allegiance // The Citizenship Project [E02]
Classroom:
- 10 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- Holiday Stamps and Religious Freedom pdf
- A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas (2021) mp3 / pdf / video
- Voices of Freedom: Ch 12: Citizens Rights and Responsibilities
- Preparing for the Oath: Responsibilities (homework)
- n-400r-18 Oath of Allegiance
- Civic Responsibilities pdf
More Resources
- Venture Arcade (click CITIZENSHIP on the upper right corner)
Originally published Dec 18, 2024
Summer Citizenship Lesson 13
Center for Civic Education: The United Nations
Classroom:
- 09 Practice Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS Form N-400 (2024)
- A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Word Search Puzzle pdf
- Voices of Freedom: Ch 11: Presidents and Holidays
- Preparing for the Oath: Famous Citizens (homework)
- uscitizenpod: A Quick Guide to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
- uscitizenpod: A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)
- Center for Civic Education: What are the similarities and differences between the Bill of Rights and UN declarations of rights?
More Resources
- Venture Arcade (click CITIZENSHIP on the upper right corner)
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