This school year I was surprised to see 70% of my students in Kindergarten stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance with the announcements the first day of school. This would indicate a large percentage of my kids went to PreK. I also noticed that though they were standing and trying to figure out which hand to put over their heart (normal) the words they were saying were mumbled. Even the kids that were saying most of the correct words showed a disconnect from the actual meaning.
The first full week of school I chose to teach the children vocabulary from the pledge of allegiance using a picture book written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Samson and illustrated by Chris Raschka appropriately titled I Pledge Allegiance.
Below you will see my amended lesson plan. I was very happy to bring this knowledge to my kids. I am just in awe that they have been exposed to so little sometimes. It’s sad but that’s why we’re here, right? My children left after a follow up lesson with a much deeper understanding of who we are as Americans and what patriotism and pride we should have in our great nation. We are so blessed to be born women in America!!! And Jason you too…..very blessed! Take me down from my soap box now I’m tearing up. Anyway and to see them stand every morning and understand the promise we are making to our fellow Americans makes me very proud of these little guys.
The first time I taught the lesson I didn’t have the Big Book of symbols I borrowed for the follow up that added greatly to the lessons substance. They learned that the American flag is up if President Obama is home at the white house and not up the pole if he’s gone. I wondered to myself how long that will stay a policy with all of the terroristic actions of resent years.
These are very abstract ideas to teach five year olds. The preteaching of the vocabulary as well as the visuals brought it much more into perspective for the students. The ESOL kids in my class, I have 2 boys this year, knew as much about our country as my other students. I think their mothers and fathers are just the most recent immigrants to the U.S. and have significant feelings of appreciation for the freedoms and life styles we are so blessed to have. They know the alternatives and I believe have shared this with their kids. We also share planning with our ESOL teacher so she can do activities that reinforce the skills we are teaching.
Vocabulary for the Pledge of Allegiance
GPS :
SSKH2 The student will identify important American symbols and explain their meaning.
a. The national and state flags (United States and Georgia flags)
b. The bald eagle
c. The Statue of Liberty
d. Lincoln Memorial
e. Washington Monument
f. White House
g. Pledge of Allegiance
h. Star Spangled Banner
Vocabulary
Pledge = a promise
Allegiance = loyalty, faithfulness, love, friend – compare to a dogs unwavering love
Flag = a symbol of a place
Liberty = freedom being able to think and make choices
Justice = fairness, to be treated fairly
Fuller explanations:
A pledge is a promise.
You could say “I pledge to clean my room.” You promise to clean your room.“I pledge to be your best friend” which would mean you would be there to play with your friend but also to help them or cheer them up if they need it. You are promising to be a best friend.
Allegiance is loyalty.
Your pet dog has allegiance to you. They are attached to you; they love you and are always happy to see you and give you love. The loyal dog’s allegiance to his owner could not be broken. Nothing would stand in between this buy and his dog’s faithful allegiance. The dog is very attached to the boy.
Liberty is freedom.
Having liberty gives us the freedom to think and have choices about how we live. Having liberty means we are not forced to do what somebody says about the important things in life like how we praise God or what church we go to.
Justice is fairness.
Everyone is treated the same. Fair means that everyone has the same rules, rights and consequences.
Flag = is a symbol something that stands to represent something or place.
Materials:
The national flag of the United States of America
I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Samson and illustrated by Chris Raschka
Vocabulary pictures from Imagine It
American Symbols Big Book
Star Spangled Banner -music
American symbols color sheet to make into a book.
Red and white and blue construction paper
Glue/scissors
White crayons
Read Aloud opening.
Before: Activate prior knowledge. Have children analyze their surroundings and grow out from there to us as Americans.
We are going to talk about some symbols or of great nation today. Who can tell me the name of our country? Pull out the globe show them where we are: Continent, nation, state, town, name of our school. I was amazed that they did not know the name of our school!!! What is our symbol for our school? Does anybody see the sailboat on my shirt have you seen that around the school? We are the Allatoona Lakers. Have any of you been to the big beautiful lake right down the road?
Show the children the picture of the American flag. They’ll say hey we have one of those in our room!
Show the students the picture cards from Imagine It vocabulary and tell them the child friendly definition for each.
During: Read I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Samson and illustrated by Chris Raschka
Discuss the pictures in the book and compare them to the vocabulary pictures. Stand up say the pledge show them their right hand and how the left hand makes an L shape so they will know that’s their lllllllleft.
After: The children colored and cut and sequenced a book of American symbols to take home and share with their families.
After reteaching 2 days later we made the flag from construction paper and added the math connection of making AB patterns. I also gave more examples of where they will see these symbols around us on a daily bases. We looked closely and coins and the dollar bill. They were astonished to actually see Abraham Lincoln sitting in the Lincoln Memorial on the tails side of the penny!
I love this lesson! Could you share it on Tuesday?
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