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A Lesson on The First Flag Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on The First Flag Grade: Grade 3
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Amanda Ho
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: American Flag, United States, Betsy Ross, Flag, Independence Day, Reading, Vocabulary, Writing, Critical Thinking
Lesson Description: In class, students will read along "The First Flag" with the teacher. After a brief discussion on the main idea, themes, and historical context students will independently work on the activity below. The activity will have students analyzing and identifying vocabulary words within the passage and applying how these words are used outside of the text. Next, students will complete brief discussions on the ideas and events that occurred while creating the first flag. Finally students will be asked to expand on why they think the American flag was not only a symbolic part of the United States then, but how it still has an important part in today's society.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.6: Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b: Provide reasons that support the opinion.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2d: Provide a concluding statement or section.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1i: Produce simple, compound, and complex sentences.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a: Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

The First Flag

It had been a busy day. I helped Betsy Ross. I am a seamstress. I can sew well. We were tired from sewing. Betsy Ross made her living by sewing for people. She sewed many things. She sewed clothes. She sewed curtains. Every day she would start with a pile of cloth and end with things people needed. Everyone knew she would do a good job. So they came to her home and asked her to sew for them. She hired me to help. 

One day three men came to her home. They asked her if she could make a flag. I listened to them talk. One of them was named George Washington. I had heard of him. There he was. He came to the store in May. I remember it well because it was my birthday. He was leading the army. The army did not have a flag. The army was fighting for freedom. No one knew if we would win. 

They showed Betsy Ross a drawing. It was for the flag of the new country. It had stars. It had stripes. It would have stripes and stars. I said, “Silver stars would be good.” Betsy said, “No. It will be too hard to make. It should be red, white, and blue.” So we set to work that day. 

We worked on the flag for the next month. It would be very big. We had to do other work, too. She said we have to make more clothes to get money. We’re doing the flag as a present. We would not be paid for the flag. It would be a present. 

Finally the flag was ready. George Washington sent someone to get it. He opened it up and said, “This is it. This is just what we need to inspire the army.” He did not show it anyone yet, though. He kept it for a special day. 

On July 4th, the army flew the new flag. That was the first Independence Day. On that day the United States said it was a new country. It had a new flag. We were not there. But we heard about it later. 

The army had to fight more battles. Just saying they were independent did not make it true. The war went on for 7 more years. We worried. We made more flags. In all those battles, soldiers saw that flag. Still, it was hard to win. 

When the war ended, the country started. I was proud when I saw the flag. I didn’t just make a flag. I was part of making the United States. 
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: seamstress | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 'I am a "seamstress".' What is a seamstress?
A. someone who does laundry
B. someone who sews clothes, curtains, quilts, etc. *
C. someone who takes care of others
D. someone who cooks and cleans
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "seamstress" correctly?
A. My mother asked the seamstress to fix the tear in her dress. *
B. My dad goes to the seamstress for food.
C. The job of the seamstress is to take care of dogs.
D. If you are sick you should go to a seamstress.
Word/Phrase: present | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 'We’re doing the flag as a "present".' In this sentence the word "present" is the same as which word?
A. a job
B. an appearance
C. a gift *
D. a certain time
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "present" correctly?
A. I present to you the new phone that everyone will want.
B. Teachers like it when their students are present for school.
C. For the project, you will have to present your poster.
D. At Christmas, kids ask Santa to bring them a certain present. *
Word/Phrase: flag | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 'They asked her if she could make a "flag".' In this sentence, what does the word "flag" mean?
A. A painting
B. To wave to someone
C. A banner that is a symbol for country or company *
D. To give someone a high five
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "flag" correctly?
A. When you are hot you should flag yourself.
B. In art class we got to create flags for our pretend country. *
C. After the game, the boys flagged their teammates.
D. A flag is a must need fashion accessory.
Word/Phrase: inspire | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 'He opened it up and said, This is it. This is just what we need to "inspire" the army.' What does the word "inspire" mean in this sentence?
A. To discourage someone to not do something
B. To upset someone greatly
C. To yell at someone for doing something bad
D. To encourage or motivate someone to do something *
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "inspire" correctly?
A. Do not drink the milk it is inspired.
B. Teachers inspire students to do well in school. *
C. She used inspired coupons.
D. The dog owner inspires about a new pet sitter.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Why did the seamstresses...
In the story, the narrator shared that Betsy Ross stated that they were going to "make the flag as a present" and that they "would not be paid for the flag.. because it would be a present". Explain in complete sentences why you think they would make the flag as a present and not accept money for their normal job of sewing.
Sent on: Jun 23, 2016 by: Amanda Ho		 0
Message Why did the narrator say...
Within the story, the narrator states she "was proud when I saw the flag". Why do you think the narrator was proud when she saw the flag? Explain your answer in complete sentences.
Sent on: Jun 23, 2016 by: Amanda Ho		 0
Message Why they kept sewing...
At the beginning of the story the narrator shared that they were "tired from sewing". Do you think that the seamstresses made the right choice to make the flag or should they have not made the flag because they were tired? Explain your answer in complete sentences.
Sent on: Jun 23, 2016 by: Amanda Ho		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1i,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: The narrator who assisted Betsy Ross in making the first flag states that she "didn't just make a flag" that she "was a part of making the United States". Why do you think the creation of the flag is considered making a part of the United States? Do you think the flag still serves as a big part of the United States today? Explain your answer and opinions in atleast two paragraphs (3 to 5 sentences each). 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2d,
 
     

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