Here's a twist for your July 4th celebration this year. Along with celebrating our nation's independence from foreign rule, we need to recognize our dependence on one another for food, clothing, and shelter. This July 4th declare your interdependence. Try the following activity.

You will need:

· a world map or globe
· piece of paper and pencil for each person
· straight pins

Ask each family member to list five to ten daily activities such as hearing the alarm clock ring, dressing, brushing hair, eating a banana, talking to a friend on the phone etc. Next to each activity write the items and people you depend upon to carry out these daily activities. Discuss the lists.
Ask everyone to go find one or two of the items they named. Take turns explaining your dependence on these items. Try to find out where each item was made and put a pin on this location on the map.

Send everyone out into the house with pencil and paper to find as many countries on clothing labels, furniture, appliances etc. as you can. Re-group around your map and locate those countries with pins also. How many countries is your family dependent on? (If you have teens who enjoy time at the mall, give them this assignment the next time they go. How many countries on clothing labels or packing boxes can they find at the mall?)

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Last updated May 24, 2002 by clf@uua.org