Social Studies Lesson

By:

Emily Bosch & Amber Richison

ED 417 Dr. Helms

The American Flag

Grade 2

Objectives

1) Students will be able to recognize the American Flag and know what the stars and and stripes on the flag represent.

2) Students will write about where they think the American Flag came from

3) Students will create a flag for an imaginary country

4) Students will discuss why it is important to show respect to our nation’s flag.

5) Students will learn the basic history of the American Flag

Materials Needed

Computer “Create your own

flag” worksheet Journal Construction paper

Glue Scissors Markers or crayons Classroom Flag Books about Flags

and their history.

Websites: http://www.usflag.org

www.usa/flag/sights.org

www.bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2symbols.html

Websites Cont.

www.geocities.com/flag_of_usa

www.patriotism.org

Activity #1

Create your own Flag

Working in small groups, students will create a flag for an imaginary country.

Students will give their country a name and write an explanation of the colors and symbols they used to make their flag.

Activity #2

Word Search

In order to reinforce new vocabulary words we have made a word search that could be used as a in class assignment or just for fun.

Activity #3

Creative Writing Journal Entry

Students will participate in a class discussion by brainstorming ideas on how the concept of the American Flag originated.

Afterwards students will compose a journal entry on how their make believe country’s flag came about.

Activity #4

A Pledge to the Flag As an introduction, the teacher will lead the

class in the Pledge of Allegiance. The teacher will then begin a large group discussion by asking questions such as “Why do we say the Pledge of Allegiance?” and “What do the words mean?”

After discussing the meaning behind the Pledge, students will be encouraged to write a pledge for their own flag.

Activity #5

Country Presentation Using power point, groups will present

their country to the class and lead the class in their country’s pledge

Students will be graded by a peer evaluation and work will be displayed in the classroom art gallery.

Meaning of the Flag

The stars stand for the 50 statesThere are 13 stripes, (seven red and six white) standing for the original 13 coloniesWhite stands for purity Red stands for courageBlue stands for justice

Why Stars & Stripes?

Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens

The stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.

Has our Flag Always Looked Like it Does Now?The original flag was made by Betsy Ross

There have been many changes made to our flag over the years.

The 1st National Flag

The 1795 Version

The 1818 Version

The 1863 Version

The 1865 Version

The Standard Version

Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,and to the Republic for which it stands, One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.

~The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise of loyalty to the United States

Proper ways to display the flag

The flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset

If it is displayed in the dark it must have a spotlight on it.

When the American Flag is displayed with other countries’ flags they have to be at the same height and on separate staffs.

The flag is flown at half staff when a person dies.

National Flag Day

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first started in 1885.

A school teacher actually began observing June 14th as the American Flag’s Birthday

The trend caught on and on August 3, 1949 President Truman declared June 14th our National Flag Day!

What is Patriotism?

Patriotism is pride in or devotion to the country somebody is born in or is a citizen of.

How do you show pride or devotion to the United States?