Flag It Down!

It’s getting close to several federal holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day (July 4). That means it’s flag time – although any day is a good day for flags. And you might be amazed at the variety of flags.

CONNECT:

• Find out the history of Flag Day at http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/flagday.pdf
• Who was Betsy Ross, and why did she sew the first U.S. flag? Check out the facts at http://www.ushistory.org/Betsy/.  On that website you can also learn how to cut a 5 pointed star in one snip.
• Did you know that native peoples have flags? See a sampler of tribal flags and their stories at http://www.tmealf.com/DH/
• Find out what each flag means in a car race at http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-auto.html

CREATE:

• Have you noticed that certain colors seem to dominate country flags? See images of every flag in the world at http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0201477.html, and do a color frequency analysis. How many flags use red? How many use pink? And so on. You can also analyze flags by their shape (check out Nepal!), symbols shown, directions of stripes, and other ways that you can think of.
• Find out about the history of the United States flag at http://www.usflag.org/toc.html. Try making a timeline of its changes by using http://www.softschools.com/teacher_resources/timeline_maker/
• See what your name looks like using signal flags: http://www.riseacadets.org/training/phoneticalphabet.html. You can also spell out your name using semaphore motions, which are on the same website. The flags are also code for messages, such as “you should stop, I have something important to communicate.”
• Make your own flag – or a family flag – using the cybertools at http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/game/tools/flag-maker

CARE:

• Good manners apply to flags; http://www.usa-flag-site.org/etiquette.shtml explains American flag etiquette.
• Practice how to fold the U.S. flag correctly by following the animation and directions at http://www.crwflags.com/folding.html
• The Girl Scouts have lots of information about flag ceremonies and other flag activities at http://www.getyourgirlpower.org/files/Flag_Protocol.pdf.
• Here are some good kid-friendly ways to commemorate Memorial Day respectfully: http://www.military.com/memorial-day/celebrating-memorial-day-with-children.html

CAREERS:

Lots of groups use flags: the military, governmental agencies, transportation, weather services, and entertainment (such as races and events).

Could you be another Betsy Ross and make flags? It’s actually an interesting industry: http://www.flagsofallnations.com.au/flags/the-flag-industry-today/