K.9 Overview

The student will recognize the American flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and that the President is the leader of the United States.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Read books with illustrations or photographs of the United States flag.
• In this activity, students will listen to a story that shows clear examples and descriptions of a few American symbols. The students will be asked to identify symbols as well as assist the teacher with labeling them during the lesson.
  - Begin by reading the teacher-selected story about American symbols. Ask the children what they notice about each symbol, paying special attention to color, shape, and size.
  - Use the following Web sites to introduce the students to the American symbols.
  
  Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids includes symbols of U.S. government
  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/symbols/index.html
  
  American Symbols on Kidspiration
  http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~elem/kidspiration/harhager/americansymbols.htm
  
  American Icons
  http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanIcons/AmericanIconIndex.htm
  
  American Symbols lesson plans and technology connections
  http://kindergartenclass.netfirms.com/americansymbols.htm
  
  - After reading the book, show students the teacher-created American symbols. Ask students to help you label each symbol. As students give you the correct label, write the name of the symbol on the sentence strip. Place both the sentence strip and the symbol in the pocket chart.
  -After sample symbols have been labeled, distribute construction paper. Ask students to choose their favorite symbol and to neatly draw and label it on their piece of construction paper.
  
• In this activity, students will recognize the name Pledge of Allegiance and will practice saying the Pledge.
  - Begin by reading a teacher-selected story about the Pledge of Allegiance. Ask students if they recall when they say the Pledge each day. How do they stand? Where are their hands and eyes?
  - Tell students that today you are going to record them saying the Pledge of Allegiance and record their voices onto the blank tape.
  -It is suggested that you record the students’ voices in a small groups of 4 to 5 students. While others are waiting to be recorded, they may work quietly in a computer or painting station. While in this station, students should create a picture of them saying the Pledge of Allegiance. In each picture, students should include a picture of themselves as well as a picture of the flag.
• Ask children to name the colors of the American flag. Explain that we say the colors in a certain order: red, white, and blue. Tell how each color has a special meaning. In the American flag, for instance, the blue stands for justice, the white stands for purity, and the red stands for courage. Put these terms into words students can understand using examples. For example, justice means fairness; purity is clean; and courage means not afraid. You can find at copy of the flag at http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/flags/usa/usaflag.shtml.
• In this activity, the students will listen to a story that communicates that the leader of our country (the United States) is called our President. We address him as Mr. President. You may want to include other fun facts about the elected President, such as where he lives, his family members, and his pets’ names.
  - Begin by reading a teacher-selected story about a President of the United States.
  -After reading the book, show students the pictures you cut out from newspapers and magazines of the current President. Ask the students to help you label each picture. Appropriate labels might include: This is the President of the United States. His name is . . .
  - Review the information the students learned about the President of the United States. More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/.
  -Ask the students to describe some of the activities they think the President does in his job. Discuss all appropriate answers.
  - Tell the students that they are now going to pretend that they are the President. They will get to write and illustrate what choices they would like to make as President. Make a classroom book using the student responses.

  WEB SITES

  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/symbols/index.html
  Here is Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.

  http://www.usflag.org/pledgeofallegiance.html
  The history of the Pledge of Allegiance is presented here.

  http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/posterset.html
  Social studies curriculum resources poster sets are available for kindergarten.

  http://www.whitehouse.gov
  Check out the White House Web site.

  LITERATURE LINKS

  Recognize the American Flag, Pledge of Allegiance, and understand that the President is the leader of the United States

  Lewison, Wendy Cheyette.
  F is for Flag. Bt. Bound, 2002.
  This easy book celebrates the origin, symbolism, and power of the banner that represents the USA.