Grade Level: 6-8

Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Math

Learner Outcomes: Students will be given the opportunity to:

• Research the procedure for correctly displaying the American Flag
• Practice correctly folding the American Flag
• Independently create a 'burrito book' to illustrate proper flag etiquette
• Research and report on the history of the American Flag
• Create a time line of the development of the American Flag
• Draw conclusions from their research on the flag that helped determine the evolution of the flag's design
• Estimate, measure and calculate the amount of each color on the flag
• Determine the geometric shapes observed in the design of the flag

Materials:

• United States flags from different time periods
• red, white, and blue construction paper
• colored copy paper
• rulers
• encyclopedia

• Computer with word processor, paint, and desktop publishing software
• Internet access
• digital camera
• video camera and tape
• VCR
• color printer

Procedures:

• The teacher will display flags incorrectly in the classroom for students to view. Students will use various research methods (encyclopedia, Internet) to determine proper flag display, and then change the displayed flags to reflect their research.
• VFW will present flag etiquette to the students. The presentation will be videotaped for reference later, or to be shared with other classes. Selected students will be given the opportunity to learn how to fold the flag, then teach other students. Using a sheet of paper, all students will demonstrate how to correctly fold a flag. Each student will then create a 'burrito book' that describes and illustrates proper flag etiquette.
• Students will be divided into small groups to research the history of the United States Flag. (see references)  This information will be disseminated back to the whole class using the floating chart (a cooperative learning strategy). Students will use a word processor and/or desktop publishing software to create a time-line of the American Flag history.
• Students will first estimate the area of the flag colors as a percentage of the whole. Students will then use rulers to find the area in inches and/or centimeters of each color on the flag and compare it to their estimate. Students will list all geometric shapes observed in the flag.

Computer 'buddies' will be assigned and support staff utilized on an as-needed basis. Lesson can be adjusted according to the students' IEP.

• Using art materials, students create an original flag using the same percentage of red, white and blue as the American Flag.
• Have a class contest to design a class flag.
• Using a computer paint program, such as Microsoft Paint, students can create and print a 'new' United States Flag.
• Students can send E-mail to their congressman requesting a flag which has been flown over the United States Capitol building.

• completion of 'burrito' book, floating chart and time-line.
• observation of flags being displayed correctly

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

Social Studies

8.13, 8.59

Math

6.31, 6.41, 8.10, 8.11

Language Arts

8.144, 8.24

Art

6.13, 6.15, 6.21

Civics

• Understands the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain values, beliefs, and principles of American constitutional democracy.

Mathematics

• Uses a variety of strategies in the problem-solving process
• Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement
• Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of geometry
• Understand the general nature and uses of mathematics

Language Arts

• Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Historical Understanding

• Understands and knows how to analyze chronological relationships and patterns
• Understands the historical perspective

References:

Flag of the United States
The Betsy Ross Home Page
The Flag of the United States
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Learn2 Fold an American Flag

John Richmond
Darlene Milam
Patty Waldeck

Horace Mann Middle School
301 43rd Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
304-348-1971

Overview

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5