WARSAW — Half a dozen of the young charges at Rainbow Child Care Center in Warsaw offered a kaleidoscope of opinions on the meaning and history behind Independence Day.

The collection of young scholars included Kerrigan Presson, 6, daughter of David and Tassie Presson of Claypool; Eli Rickman, 7, son of Matt Rickman and Susan Mack, Warsaw; Sam Leake, 6, son of Eric Leake and Cheryl Ritter, Silver Lake; Ava Floyd, 6, daughter of Benjamin and Kaitlyn Floyd, Warsaw; Leila Wiley, 6, daughter of Eric and Nicolette Wiley, Claypool; and Luke Macke, 6, son of Jacob and Kathleen Macke, Cherry Lake.

PHILADELPHIA STORY — Binti Shah, program director for Rainbow Child Care Center in Warsaw, points out where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Shown, from left, are Sam Leake, Luke Macke, Leila Wiley and Ava Floyd. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

When asked which country the United States separated from, Luke had an interesting take.

“I have an answer how they unconnected,” he said. “A long time ago there was a big thing like an earthquake where states slided under each other and others sometimes crashed or went apart.”

Kerrigan thought the U.S. declared its independence from Indiana.

The Founding Fathers signed the document at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, but Sam thought the signing was a little closer to home. “It was signed in Akron,” he said. “I used to live in Akron.”

Ava though the event took place in New York and Leila gave the right answer one question late. “It happened in England,” she said.

Luke took the mileage award with his guess of Indonesia.

How many founders signed the Declaration of Independence? Sam was precise, reckoning exactly 8,052 signers. Leila guessed 800. Luke was a little closer with 300.

Kerrigan ventured “a million” and then amended that to 500,000 and Ava first surmised zero and then thought better of her answer and changed it to 100. Eli thought there were 20,000 signers.

There were, in fact, 56 signers.

Most of the kids followed Luke’s lead as to how many states the nation began with. “One whole big state,” he said. “It tells you on ‘Magic School Bus.’” Sam, Eli and Leila concurred with Luke’s assessment.

Ava parted from the consensus and reckoned the country started with 1,500 states.

When asked what day of the year the Fourth of July falls on, the group ventured various answers.

Ava thought it arrived June 4 and Leila upped the ante, saying June 40. Luke only figured it came in the summer. Sam unwittingly taught a profound lesson when he responded, “Every day.”

Binti Shah, Rainbow’s program director, added a question: “If an alien came down to earth, what would you tell them about the Fourth of July?”

Luke responded, “I would tell them that is when they got freedom.”

On Independence Day, Sam likes to “play with sparklers, swinging them in the air.”

Ava said she watches the fireworks and “then I go home and have a party.”

Eli said he likes to play tag and Kerrigan goes to the park. “I play on the swings, eat hot dogs and corn dogs and a lot more things,” she said.

Luke and Leila both like to catch fireflies. “I do it with my brother and my dad,” said Leila.

What is their favorite holiday food?

Kerrigan was ready with her list, naming hot dogs, corn dogs, Popsicles, ice cream and cookies, in that order. Luke preferred hot dogs, Eli liked pizza and Sam mentioned macaroni and cheese.

Ava said, “I have three things, brownies, gum and Popsicles.”

Leila listed cake, cupcakes and cookies and Eli said chicken and noodles, soup and spaghetti and meatballs.