• What does it mean to you to be American?
- How do you feel about being an America?
• What do you think being American means to people your age? What about compared to the America of your parents when they were your age?
- Thinking about things like identity, opportunities, and social values, how is it different to be a young American vs. an older American today?
- What are the differences between your America vs. your parents' America?
• How proud are you to be an American? How come?
- What are some things that make you proud to be an American?
- What are some things about being an American that you aren't so proud of?
• Feel free to share any personal stories that illustrate your American pride
• As an American, what are some things you are thankful for?
Now thinking about the idea of the "American Dream"...
• What comes to mind when you think about the "American Dream"? What does it mean to you?
- What about it relates to your life? What about it doesn't?
• What is your own personal "American dream?"
- What are you hoping for in the future?
- Thinking 10 years down the line, what would constitute success for you in your life?
DAY ONE ACTIVITY A: Social Media Scavenger Hunt
Now I'd like you to take a few minutes to explore the feeds on any social media accounts you have (for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and/or some of your favorite websites and look out for anything that gets you thinking about what it means to be an American...
• What grabs your attention as being "American"? How is it American?
- What's good about it? What, if anything, is not so good about it?
• Do you see any brands or products that feel American? If so, what?
- What do you think about each?
- What values does each convey?
• What hashtags have you seen recently that are tied to being American? What do you think of them?
- Have you ever seen the hashtag #Merica? What do you think of it?
Photo Album - What is Your America?
For today's activity, we would like you to post a picture album showcasing America today. You can take your own pictures and/or use images from the Internet. Just please be sure to upload at least 1 picture for each of the questions asked above, including:
• What it means to be American
• What it means to be American and your age
• Things you're proud (and not proud of!) of as an American
• Things you're thankful for
• The American Dream vs. Your American Dream
• Brands, images, posts, etc. that spark your attention as being American from your social feed scavenger hunt