Lets start off the Presidents Week by focusing on the Flag. It is a great place to begin, and will accompany every other lesson that follows.

HISTORY: OUR AMERICAN FLAG

• Show your child a picture of the American flag or a real flag. Explain that over 200 years ago, a flag similar to today’s flag was chosen to represent our country, the United States of America. Help your child count the 13 stripes, which stand for the original 13 states. Then together, count the stars, which stand for the number of states today. How many are there? (50)

Read the following passages and answer the questions below.

• The Thirteen StripesThe U.S. Flag has thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, each stripe representing one of the 13 original colonies of England.The 50 Stars

  The United States Flag has 50 stars, one for each state of the Union. The last star added was for the State of Hawaii, 1960.

  U.S. Flag Names

  • Stars and Stripes
  • Old Glory
  1. How many stripes does the U.S. flag have?
  2. What do the red and white stripes stand for?
  3. How many stars does the flag have?
  4. What do the stars stand for?
  5. What are the two other names for the United States flag?
• ACTIVITY: FLAG DISPLAY
  Take your child on a walk or ride to look for American flags on display. Count the ones you find and record the number, if you wish. Talk about the ways that the flags are hung. When you return, let your child help you display a flag in a window or in front of your home. Remind him that when handling the flag, it should never be allowed to touch the ground.
• ACTIVITY: Cut a 5-Pointed Star - George Washingtons original pencil sketch for the flag indicated 6-pointed stars, a form he apparently preferred. Take a thin piece of paper 8-1/2″ x 10″ (or an exact proportion thereof), fold it as indicated and cut yourself a perfect 5-pointed star.

• Step 1. Fold an 8-1/2″ x 10″ piece of paper in half.
• Step 2.Fold and unfold in half both ways to form creased center lines. (Note: be sure paper is still folded in half.)
• Step 3.Bring corner (1) right to meet the center line. Be sure to fold from the vertical crease line.
• Step 4.Bring corner (1) left till edges coincide, then make the fold.
• Step 5. Bring corner (2) left and fold.
• Step 6. Bring corner (2) right until edges coincide. Then fold.
• Step 7. Cut on the angle as shown in the picture. Then unfold the small piece.
• Step 8. Marvel at your perfect (we hope!) 5-pointed star!

• Say the Pledge of Allegiance

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 21st, 2006 at 9:00 pm and is filed under Kindergarten Lessons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.