HAPPY FLAG DAY

STAR FLAGS

• Set out pieces of white or light blue construction paper and some star cookie cutters.
• Set out two paint trays; one with red paint and one with blue paint.  (Paint trays are made by setting a thin sponge on a small plate or tray and then pouring paint onto the sponge.)
• Have children press cookie cutters onto the paint sponges and make impressions on a piece of paper.
• Hang children’s flags across the room, by stringing up a piece of yarn from one side to the other.    Fold the top of the flag over the yarn and staple it together.
   

PAPER CHAIN FLAG MURAL

• Set out some 1” x 7” strips of red, white and blue paper.
• On the first day, have everyone make chains of blue paper.  Use the blue chains to make a blue square of chains (approximately 24” x 24”) in the top left hand corner of a bulletin board. (or in the middle of a wall).
• On the second day have your children make red and blue chains.  Use the chains to make alternative rows of red and blue.  Start and end with a row of red.  Make 13 rows in all.
• To complete your American Flag mural, add 50 white star shapes on the front of the blue chain square.

HAND PRINT FLAGS

• Set out red, white and blue tempera paint along with some paint brushes.
• One at a time, have your children come up and paint one of their hands, red, white and blue, in any way they wish. 
• Then have the children turn their hand sideways and hold their fingers tight against one another.
• Next have them press their hand onto a piece of paper to make an impression.
• This impression will be their flag.
• Finally, have the children paint a long blue flag pole coming down from the palm end of their flag.
• Hang up the pictures for everyone to see as they are dry.

FLAG DAY LEARNING GAMES

CONNECTING COLORED STARS

• Attach several red and blue star stickers at random all over pieces of white paper.
• Set out some red and blue crayons.
• Have your children connect red stars using a red crayon and blue stars using a blue crayon.

THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

• Explain that our flag is sometimes called, “The Red, White and Blue”.
• Ask a child to point to those colors on a picture of the flag.
• Have your children look around the room for other objects that are these colors.
• Make a pile of red, white and blue objects.
   

FLAG COUNTING BOOK

• Staple together five pieces of paper to make a blank book.
• Number the pages from 1 to 5.
• Give your child 15 American flag stickers.
• Then help him name the numeral on each page and attach a matching number of flags.
• To complete the book, add a cover page for the child to illustrate, if you wish.

FLAG DAY 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)
   

FLAG DISPLAY

• Take your child on a walk or ride to look for American flags on display.
• Count the ones you find.
• 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 your child that when handling the flag, it should never be allowed to touch the ground.

FLAG DAY SNACKS

RED, WHITE AND BLUE SNACK
Make one of these patriotic snacks for your child to enjoy.

• Place strawberries and blue berries in a small bowl and add a dollop of whipped topping.
• Use a cookie cutter to cut a star shape out of a slice of bread.  Spread on softened cream cheese and top with strawberry slices and blueberries.

FLAG DAY SONGS & RHYMES

RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Tune:  “Three Blind Mice”

The red, white and blue,
The red, white and blue.
Waving at me, waving at you.
We hang the flag all over town.
We wave the flag around and around.
We never, ever, let it touch, the ground.
The red, white and blue,
The red, white and blue.
                                                Jean Warren

 
OUT AT THE FLAG POLE
Tune:  “Down By The Station”

Out at the flag pole, early in the morning.
We raise the flag, the Red, White and Blue.

See the flag go up and wave to everyone.
It’s our nation’s flag, the Red, White and Blue.
                                                Jean Warren
 

WAVE THE FLAG
Tune:  “Frere Jacques”

Wave your flag,  wave your flag,
Red, White and Blue,  Red, White and Blue.
They’re our nations colors, They’re our nations colors,
We love you, We love you!
                                                Jean Warren