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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: Laura Manke Lesson Length: 1 hour 45 minutes Keywords/Tags: flag, Betsy Ross, American Revolution, war, United States of America, Independence Day, 4th of July, freedom Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to give students a point of view text to help students think about the why the flag is so important. Students have been learning about the flag and this lesson should provide them some context as to why there are so many "flag rules" and why our flag is so important to our country.
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.SL.3.1d: Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 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 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

	How rich or poor is Betsy Ross? Do you think Betsy Ross had a lot of money or not? Use details from the text to support your answer. Sent on: Jul 1, 2017 by: Laura Manke	0

	Why did George Washington need the flag? Why do you think George Washington needed a flag to inspire his men? What background knowledge did you call on to answer this question? Please also select a sentence from the text to support your answer. Sent on: Jul 1, 2017 by: Laura Manke	0

	Main character thoughts The main character says, "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." What does she mean when she says "I was part of making the United States."? Sent on: Jul 1, 2017 by: Laura Manke	0

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

Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: In class we talked about "flag ettiquite" such as not touching a flying flag, not flying a flag at night without a light and not dragging the flag on the ground. Please write one paragraph (5-7 complete sentences) explaining how this text helped you to understand why it is so important that we respect our flag.

Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3,

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