The Very First Flags of the World

What do you think??#1) The idea to use flags to differentiate between groups began over______ ago…

A) 300 years B) 500 yearsC) 1,000 yearsD) 4,000 years

#2) Groups began using flags because….?

During ancient warfare, soldiers needed to be able to quickly identify which soldiers were friends and which soldiers were enemies. They therefore painted crosses, animals, or other symbols on their shields in order to distinguish their army from the opposing side.

The Meaning of Flags Today

All 196 countries of the world have their own unique flag.

What are the reasons for a country to have a flag today?

Let’s study the meaning of various flags from around the world.

We will look at one country from each continent…

Brazil (South America)• Stars represent every

member state of Brazil and reflect the view of the night sky from Rio de Janeiro

• “Order and Progress” ideal• Green represents land

(specifically the Amazon rainforest)

• Yellow represents prosperity and gold

Germany (Europe)

•Yellow - a symbol of generosity

•Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour

•Black - Determination

Australia

• History as British colony• 7 pointed star

(commonwealth star) represents unity of states and territories

• Stars arranged in southern cross—most visible constellation in the Australian sky

Chad (Africa)

• Blue symbolizes, the sky, hope, and water

• Yellow is for the sun and the desert to the north of the country

• Red progress, unity, and sacrifice.

USA (North America)• 50 stars represent unity of the 50

states of the USA• The 13 stripes honor the history

of the US through its 13 original colonies

• White signifies purity and innocence

• Red represents hardiness & valour• Blue signifies vigilance,

perseverance & justice

Pakistan (Asia)•The crescent represents progress •The star symbolizes light and knowledge•White = peace and honesty & symbolizing the role of religious minoritiesGreen = hope, joy and love and has a sacred significance representing Islam

We Seem to Have A LOT in Common…• Brazil Sky, stars, progress, land, prosperity• Germany Generosity, hardiness, strength, bravery,

valour, determination• Australia History, stars, unity, sky• Chad Pride, hope, water, progress, unity, sacrifice• USA Unity, history, purity, innocence, valour, hardiness,

vigilance, perseverance, justice• Pakistan Progress, light, knowledge, peace, honesty,

hope, joy, love, Islam

What common themes do you see?

We Seem to Have A LOT in Common…

• Brazil Sky, stars, progress, land, prosperity• Germany Generosity, hardiness, strength, bravery, valour,

determination• Australia History, stars, unity, sky• Chad Pride, hope, water, progress, unity, sacrifice

• USA Unity, history, purity, innocence, valour, hardiness, vigilance, perseverance, justice

• Pakistan Progress, light, knowledge, peace, honesty, hope, joy, love, Islam

Bandera de Manos (Flag of Hands)Hagamos todosUna bandera con manos negrasUna bandera con manos blancasPor un mundo mejor…En este momentoHagamos todosUna bandera con manos mestizasUna bandera con manos inmigrantesPor un mundo mejorYa que estamos cansadosDe tantas historias vencidasTantas promesas nunca cumplidasAlcemos el alma y la vozY hagamos el amorComo una manifestaciónQue la guerra no da explicaciónA seguir asíQuemando la piel de tus manos

Let’s all makeA flag with Black handsA flag with White handsFor a better world…In this momentLet’s all makeA flag with mixed handsI flag with immigrant handsFor a better worldSince we are already tiredOf so many defeated historiesSo many unkept promisesLet’s lift up our soul and our voiceAnd let’s make loveLike a declarationThat war give no explanationTo continue like thisBurning the skin of your hands

Bandera de Manos (Cont.)Que son las manos míasDe tu almaQue es como el alma míaQue ironíasLas que nos da la vidaMientras miles se mueren de hambreLos líderes compran arsenalesY así siembran dolorHagamos todos una solo bandera todosDerribemos fronteras todosPor un mundo mejorEn este momento sembremos pazMás justicia más dignidadLibertad con más igualdadPor un mundo mejorYa que estamos cansadosDe tantas historias vencidasTantas promesas nunca cumplidasAlcemos el alma y la voz

That are the same as my handsOf your soulThat is like my soulOh, the ironiesThat give us this life While millions die of hungerThe leaders buy weaponsAnd create painLet’s all make a single flagBreaking down boundaries between usFor a better worldIn this moment let’s make peaceMore justice, more dignityLiberty with more equalityFor a better worldSince we are already tired Of do many defeated histories So many unkept promisesLet’s lift up our soul and our voice

Bandera de Manos (cont)Y hagamos el amorComo una manifestaciónQue la guerra no da explicaciónA seguir asíQuemando la piel de tus manosQue son las manos míasDe tu almaQue es como el alma míaQue ironíasLas que nos da la vidaMientras miles se mueren de hambreLos líderes compran arsenalesY así siembran dolorY compran arsenalesY así siembran dolor

And let’s make loveLike a declaration That war give no explanationTo continue like thisBurning the skin of your handsThat are the same as my handsOf your soulThat is like my soulOh, the ironiesThat give us this life While millions die of hungerThe leaders buy weaponsAnd create pain

Homework Option #1

• Imagine that we recently found out that the entire Earth was under attack by aliens from another planet. Now need to make a flag to represent Earth. – Assignment: Design a flag that will represent all of

earth based on the common values that we share, and then write one paragraph to explain the symbols of your new flag. You may also write about the hatred and challenges currently present in our world that countries would have to overcome in order to fight together.

Homework Option #2

• Look at the words to Juanes’ “Bandera de Manos” song again (next screen). – Assignment: Choose 1 of the 8 sections that you

like the best. Write one or two paragraphs about what it means to you, and what lesson(s) our world should learn from it.

Let’s all makeA flag with Black handsA flag with White handsFor a better world…

In this momentLet’s all makeA flag with mixed handsI flag with immigrant handsFor a better world

Since we are already tiredOf so many defeated historiesSo many unkept promisesLet’s lift up our soul and our voice

And let’s make loveLike a declarationThat war give no explanationTo continue like this

Burning the skin of your handsThat are the same as my handsOf your soulThat is like my soul

Oh, the ironiesThat give us this life While millions die of hungerThe leaders buy weaponsAnd create pain

Let’s all make a single flagBreaking down boundaries between usFor a better world

In this moment let’s make peaceMore justice, more dignityLiberty with more equalityFor a better world