American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > What Does a Flag Stand For?

What Does a Flag Stand For?

Details

Author
Maureen Jorgensen
Topic/Subject Area
Customs, Holidays, Rituals
Historical Era
Early Indigenous and European contact, 1565–1619, Colonial settlement, 1620–1762, Revolutionary America, 1763–1783, The New Nation, 1784–1815, National Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860, Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877, Rise of Industrial America, 1878–1899, Progressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2010
Last Revision Date
2024

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About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

The children will use the web site sources, children’s literature as well as personal flag creations in order to gain a better understanding of what a flag or banner represents.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items

Teaching Plan

  1. Read Red, White, and Blue: The story of the American Flag by John Herman. Also read F Is For Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison. Discuss the history of the flag and how it evolved into the flag we have today.
  2. Visit the American Centuries website and discuss the flags and banners in the collection. The children will further discuss how these flags and banners represent their creators.
  3. Explore the definition of a flag as ” a symbol which represents a place, a thing or an idea.”
  4. The teacher and children will brainstorm symbols which would represent their class on a class flag. This might include number of students, class interests, things we have studied this year, etc.
  5. The children are asked to take home a worksheet to develop a list of things which would represent themselves and their families.
  6. Children are given paper, glue, scissors, etc. to use in creating a flag which represents their own family.
  7. Flags and worksheets are displayed for others in the school to see.
  8. The children are given a writing assignment to explain the significance of their personal flag. These one page writing assignments will be displayed with their personal flags and planning sheets.