"I Pledge..."
Review with children the Pledge
of Allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and
to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all."
Explain that the word "pledge" is a synonym for the words "promise" or
"guarantee." Brainstorm together a a list of situations in which
people make pledges or promises (a public official being sworn into office,
a doctor taking the Hippocratic oath, a bride and groom exchanging wedding
vows, etc.). Many pledges or guarantees are written down so that both
the person who is making the promise and the person(s) receiving the promise
may be certain of what is to be done.
Work in small groups to draft a class pledge, then vote on pledges and adopt
one. You may make modifications as necessary. Or work as a family to formulate
a family pledge. Whether the pledge is short like the Pledge of Allegiance
or a little longer, it needs to outline a commitment that every person who
takes the pledge can fulfill. For instance, pledging to donate $10,000 to
the school library is unrealistic; but students could realistically
pledge to be honest on quizzes and tests....
Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" not as a national anthem,
but rather as a personal expression of what the flag meant to him. As
long as he saw the flag waving over Baltimore, he knew that Fort McHenry
had not surrendered to the British and the Maryland was still free.
The American flag means many things to many people. Write about what it means
to you. If possible, interview others and find out what the flag means to
them. Possibilities for interviews include veterans of foreign wars, active
military personnel and their families, local government officials, people
who have recently immigrated to the United States, American citizens who
have lived abroad, and so forth.
A Family Flag
Ask children to look at the American
flag and name the colors it contains. Explain that each color used in a flag
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.
Not only the colors but also the symbols on the flag are significant. The
original flag bore thirteen stars and thirteen stripes--one for each of the
colonies. Today the American flag proudly displays fifty stars, one for each
state in the union. The thirteen stripes remain unchanged, reminding America
of its beginning as thirteen colonies.
Ask children to think of items that have special significance to them or
their family. Direct them to create a family flag, using only the most important
of these symbols. You might also share the meanings of the following colors
commonly used on flags so that children can choose appropriate colors for
their designs.
Material on this site may be reproduced in printed form for non-commercial use (including school, church, and community/civic club use) as long as proper credit, including a link to this site, is given.
Material may not be reproduced for commercial use without written permission.
