Book: F is for Flag

Author: Wendy Cheyette Lewison

Grade:1st and 2nd

Materials: Paper, pencil, crayons, graphic organizer, video on brain pop jr. about
symbols, American symbols book (F is for Flag),

Standard:
Objective 3
Name school, neighborhood, Utah state, and national symbols, landmarks, and
documents.

a. Identify national symbols, documents, and landmarks (e.g., Declaration of

Independence, U.S. Constitution, Liberty Bell, Washington Monument).

Overview and Purpose: The American flag is an iconic symbol in our country. All
students recognize it when they see it, but do they know why it looks like it does? What
do the stars and stripes stand for? This lesson teaches children the answers and lets
them make a flag that represents who they are.

Objective: The student will be able to

*explain what the American flag looks like and what the stars and stripes stand mean.
*create their own personal flag and explain what the symbols on it mean.

Phase one:

1. Begin by showing the students the cover of the book. Then read the title of the
book to the children. Have the students infer what the book might be about
based on the cover and title.
2. Begin reading the story, pausing throughout to ask the following questions:
 In the story it talks about being one great big family, what do you think
that means?
What does it mean to be a good Citizen of America or our community or
classroom?
What are things you do to show you are a good citizen of the United
States, community or classroom?
What are things all of us can do to show we are good citizens in our
community, classroom or country?
What is a flag?
Do you know what symbol is?
What are some symbols you know about? (heart=love, dove=peace)

Phase two:

Have small group discussions then bring it full class discussion.

3. Watch brain pop video on American symbols- 5 min

https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/citizenship/ussymbols/

As a class take the quiz at the end of the video to assess understanding and
comprehension of the book and video.

4. After reading the story and watching the video, ask the students to identify other
symbols of patriotism in our country and talk about what each part of the flag
represent?
1. Every country has a national flag. A national flag represents a countrys
citizens. When you are the citizen of a country is like being part of a team
and you work together to take care of the country
 Have students as group sort different American symbols and just normal symbols
(heart, clover, etc ) then have each group come up as a group and sort them on
the correct side of the chart.

Phase 3:

Tell students that they are going to get to create a flag that represents them, just
as our flag represents our nation. Have them name two or three things they
want to put on their flag and then have them create it. Encourage them to use
different types of paper or different colored markers.
When they are finished, have them explain their flag to the class. Display the
flags in the room.