Exploring the World: United States of America

We’re now travelling to the United States of America! The home of bright lights, big cities and some of the most stunning landscapes and natural attractions. Keep reading to find out more about this big and bold country!

Where is the USA?

The United States is in North America and borders Canada and Mexico, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. It has the 3rd highest population in the world and is the 3rd largest country in the world after Russia and Canada. There are 50 different states in the USA and Washington D.C is their capital city. This is also where the world-famous White House can be found, which is where the President lives.

What Language is Spoken?

The United States doesn’t actually have an official language. American English is the most widely spoken in the country, however due to the US being a melting pot of cultures through immigration, there are many different languages spoken. Spanish is the second most spoken language due to Hispanic migration and the fact that parts of America were once part of Mexico.

It is also important to acknowledge the many indigenous languages that are still spoken in the US today. The indigenous Americans are the original inhabitants of America, but unfortunately due to colonization in the past their population did decline. However, there are still many indigenous tribes that are thriving today, with over 150 indigenous languages still spoken!

Food

American food is as diverse as its population. Due to immigration from all over the world, American cuisine is influenced by quite literally everywhere! Many dishes that originated from other countries and were brought over by immigrants have become “Americanized” over time. This has now led to labels such as “Italian-American” and “Chinese-American” for certain foods to differentiate from their origins.

Aside from ethnic and immigrant influences, there are lots of authentically American foods. For example, hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob are popular at family cookouts. Desserts such as apple pie and strawberry shortcake and comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches are loved throughout the states. There is also southern-style cooking from the southern states, which is affectionately called “soul food”. Traditional southern cooking includes fried chicken, grits (a type of porridge), cornbread and biscuits (a style of baked bread not our sugary biscuits!).

Culture and Traditions

One of America’s biggest holidays is the Fourth of July. This is also known as Independence Day and celebrates their freedom of British rule. There are lots of ways that people celebrate such as family cookouts with lots of food and firework displays. Many people also dress up in the flag colours of red, white, and blue and sing patriotic songs to show their national pride.

Another major holiday is Thanksgiving in November. It started in the 1600s when the Pilgrims invited the Indigenous Americans for a feast as a thank you for helping them grow crops. However today, Thanksgiving is mainly about being thankful for the good things in your life and getting together with family. Families usually cook a feast of food and turkey is traditionally eaten.

America is also seen as a hub for popular culture. American cinema (Hollywood) has influenced the film industry globally and they release many of the most successful films in the world. Many musical genres have American roots, such as country, blues, jazz, rock and roll and pop. Notable musicians include Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Madonna.

There is also a huge sports culture. Baseball is one of the oldest major sports in the country, but American football is the most popular sport in the country. This is played differently to football in England, that is called soccer in America. American football can be described as a mix of soccer and rugby.

Download our blank American flag below and get your little ones to colour in the famous stars and stripes!