The meaning of a flag and the history of “Old Glory.”
Read the current chapter online: “The Flag of the Union.”
Suggestions
- Learn more about the flag flying over the Capitol Building.
- Make a flip book explaining the four things the author says the flag means: possession, protection, pride, and patriotism.
- Use alliteration to create a one-stanza poem about the flag similar to the one on pg. 177.
- Create a flag notebook with a page for each flag of the world shown in the book on pgs. 178—179. (Some of the flags have been updated since the book was published — see resources below).
- Copy Victor Hugo’s quotation on pg. 179 into your copybook.
- Read more from Henry Ward Beecher’s speech.
- Memorize the portion of Beecher’s speech printed on pg. 180.
- Make a timeline showing the official flags of the United States.
- Learn more about the flag from Ft. McHenry.
- Explore the flag of Ft. McHenry now held at the Smithsonian.
- View the blue Liberty flag, the appeal to heaven or pine tree flag, and a rattlesnake flag.
- Learn more about General Putnam.
- View the Grand Union Flag.
- Compare and contrast the Grand Union Flag with the British Union Jack.
- Of course, Prospect Hill looks nothing like it used to. But the flag is still raised there each January 1.
- Learn more about the 1777 siege of Fort Schuyler.
- Write a brief biography of Betsy Ross.
- Sing “The American Flag” by Drake (or just read the poem).
- Read more about Evening Colors.
- Draw a flag at the top of a piece of Drawing & Writing paper. Copy the selection by Sumner below your illustration (see pg. 188).
- Learn more about Daniel Webster.
- Narrate the last paragraph on pg. 189.
Learn more about the American flag:
Long before men had learned to build houses and churches and cities, and long before they knew how to manufacture the bunting and silk of which our flags are made today, they used the skins of animals or the feathers of a bird fastened to a long pole to show the tribe or band to which they belonged, and to signal to one another. Men traveling long distances through the forest knew by this whether they were meeting friends or foes….
We know to what nation a ship belongs by the flag it displays. In the language of flags, white indicates a truce and red, danger, as when explosives are being transported. Dipping the flag is a sign of respect, flying it at half-mast, a sign of mourning, hoisting it upside down, an appeal for help. Striking, or hauling down, a flag is a signal of surrender….
Different flags tell us many different kinds of things, but there is one flag which always tells us the same thing, and that is the flag of our country.
The colors — red, white and blue — are symbolic. “Red is for courage, zeal, fervency; white is for purity, cleanness of life and rectitude of conduct; blue is for loyalty, devotion, friendship, justice and truth.”
“The Story of the American Flag” from The Book of Knowledge
Additional Resources
Flags of the World
From the CIA World Factbook.
Early Flags
A few you may not have heard of.
Betsy Ross and the American Flag
Frequently asked questions.
Mr. Flag Maker
Address by former Secretary of the Interior Franklin Lane.
Flag Day Celebrated
Information from The Library of Congress for Kids site.
Activities
Fort McHenry Cam
Live!
The Star-Spangled Banner
Interactive flag from the Smithsonian.
Deconstructing History: American Flag
Video from the History Channel. (You may want to install an ad blocker before viewing.)
Books
Betsy Ross: Designer of Our Flag by Ann Weil
Part of the Childhood of Famous Americans series, simple biography for younger readers.
Manual of Patriotism
Written for public schools, includes songs, poems, and quite a bit of flag history.
Our Flag
Free 52-page color download.
Units & Lesson Plans
Free History Studies: The Star-Spangled Banner
Learn more about Francis Scott Key, Fort McHenry, and the Star-Spangled Banner!
Flag Day: A Unit Study
Many, many more resources in our free unit!
Educational Resource Handbook
Enormous 93-page download from The American Flag Foundation that includes activities and printables.
Notebooking Pages & Printables
United States Flag Coloring Page
From Crayola.
American Flag Lapbook
At CyncesPlace.com.
The Flag Notebooking Pages
Our free and simple notebooking pages for copywork, narrations, dictations, or wrapping up.
Enjoy the entire series:
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