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A Lesson on The First Flag	Export Lesson as PDF \| Save As Favorite

	Grade: Grade 3 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Rebecca Berry Lesson Length: More than 3 hours Keywords/Tags: flag, America, Betsy Ross Lesson Description: This lesson helps students to understand the importance and meaning behind the flag of the United States of America. This lesson tests students on vocabulary from the passage. This lesson also has students use critical thinking to answer important questions.
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.W.3.5: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 3.) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4d: Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

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 (30 points)

Instructions: Match the definitions to the words.

Words

1.) ____ seamstress

2.) ____ freedom

3.) ____ independent

4.) ____ soldiers

5.) ____ country

Definitions

A. a person who makes a living by sewing.

B. not having to depend on another person, free from another person's authority

C. a nation, a territory with its own government

D. The state or quality of being able to speak, think, and act without hindrance.

E. a person who is in the army who serves

Use each word correctly in a sentence.

1.) seamstress

2.) freedom

3.) independent

4.) soldiers

5.) country


Vocabulary Questions

Word/Phrase: Pick the correct definition of the word provided. \| Tier: 2 \| Points: 30
Q1	seamstress A. a person who serves in the army B. a person who makes a living by sewing * C. the state or quality of being able to speak, think, and act without hindrance D. a nation, a territory with its own government freedom A. a person who serves in the army B. a person who makes a living by sewing C. the state or quality of being able to speak, think, and act without hindrance * D. a nation, a territory with its own government

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.4d,

Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)

Instructions: After reading the passage, respond to the questions.

1.) Why do you think Betsy Ross picked the colors red, white, and blue?

2.) What do you think the flag represents for our country now?

3.) Why do you think they asked Betsy to make the flag for them?

4.) After the flag was finished how many more years did the war go on?

5.) What day in July is Independence day?

6.) How did Betsy Ross make a living?

7.) What are a few of the many things Betsy could sew?

8.) How many men came with George Washington to the place Betsy was working?

9.) What does the flag look like?

10.) How much did Betsy charge to make the flag?


	Topic Title	Replies

	The flag 1.) Why do you think Betsy Ross picked the colors red, white, and blue? Sent on: Oct 9, 2016 by: Rebecca Berry	0

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1,

Task 3: Writing Activity (40 points)

Instructions: Write a three paragraph paper about what kind of flag you would create!

1. In the first paragraph write about what you would want to make a flag for. (ex. favorite sports team, the school you go to, your favorite place to go)

2. In the second paragraph write about what this flag would look like. (ex. colors, shapes, design)

3. In the third paragraph explain if you know how to sew. If you do explain how you learned (who taught you, where did you learn, how long it took for you to learn). If you do not know how to sew then explain how you would learn.

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.5,

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