Back to Portfolio Main Page
Title: Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue
Goal: To learn about the flags used in New England during
the American Revolution and understand the symbolism in them.
Grade level: This lesson is designed for grades 6-8. specifically
grade 8.
Time: Introduction: 10 minutes
Worksheets: 15 minutes
Presentations: 15 minutes
Flag Creation: 20 minutes
Total: 60 minutes
Standards: (History) Historical Thinking: 2I; 4B, 4C; Era
3: 1A, 1C
Objectives: In groups of 3, students will investigate the
symbolism in New England Revolutionary flags; using this knowledge,
they will then create their own Revolutionary flags using similar
symbolism.
Procedure:
1. The teacher should start class by asking students why nations
have flags, what makes up a flag (symbols, etc), what the symbols
stand for, and what flags are used for. The current United States
flag can be used as an example, as the students will be more familiar
with it. Students should be encouraged to brainstorm answers as
the teacher writes them on the black board.
2. Once the students have brainstormed and answered the questions,
the teacher should put up an overhead of a New England Revolutionary
flag (The flag overhead provided is that of the Massachusetts
Navy, the 'Pine Tree' flag). The teacher should ask the students,
based on their answers, what the flag was meant to show. The teacher
should encourage well thought-out answers, but should be specifically
looking for the following:
The pine tree was a symbol of New England since its founding
and was commonly found on many colonial-era flags. The phrase
'An Appeal to Heaven' was meant as a way of showing that New Englanders
were asking God's assistance and protection in their fight with
the British.
3. Students should be asked to form groups of no more than three.
The teacher should walk around the room and give each group a
different worksheet, which they will collaborate to answer together.
4. While the students work on the sheets the teacher should walk
around the room and help the students. The teacher should also
give each group a sheet of plain, white paper. There should be
markers or colored pencils available in the room.
5. The students should be told that when they finish the worksheets,
they should design one of their own (in groups) using the plain
piece of paper and the markers/pencils. They should be told that
they can incorporate any of the symbols, colors, or other aspects
of the flags they have seen, or they may develop their own, as
long as they can explain the symbolism.
6. When the students have finished the worksheets, the teacher
should ask each group to come to the front of the class and tell
the class about the worksheet flag they worked on. The students
should tell the class about the flag (information is on the worksheet)
and then tell about what symbols they found and what they thought
the symbols stood for.
7. When the first round of presentations are over, the students
should continue working on their original flags. The students
should be asked to not only create the flag, but write up a brief
write-up of the symbolism behind their flags.
8. If the students feel that they need more time for their flags,
the teacher can use spare time during the coming days for the
students to work together.
9. When the students are finished, each group should present their
flags to the class and explain their design and the symbols in
it. If no time for presentations is available, the teacher may
collect the flags and the written explanations and post them in
the classroom.
Assessment: Teacher observation of student participation
in group work.
Extensions: There are certainly more flags available. A good
source is the Flags of the World web site: http://fotw.digibel.be/flags/
Perhaps, if more time is available, the student can draw their
flags with markers on white handkerchiefs, which can be mounted
to dowels and hung around the classroom.
- The 13 stripes found on the flags represent the 13 colonies.
There are often 13 stars as well.
- Many of the flags display the British flag in some way. These
flags were used prior to 1776. It was meant to show that although
the Americans were fighting the British, they still saw themselves
as a part of the British empire. After 1776, the British flag
was removed.
- The Pine Tree has been a symbol of New England since colonial
times. Pine trees were one of New England's major exports. The
pine tree trunks were sent to England for use as masts on ships.
The pine was prized for its strength.
-Often flags have a red field (such as the Taunton and Bunker
Hill flags). This was based on the British Red Ensign, a flag
used on British merchant ships. The flag was all red, with the
British flag in the upper corner. The Grand Union flag is simply
the British Red Ensign with white stripes.