My American Flag

[20 Minutes]

Why not celebrate patriotic holidays by making a flag that you and your child design together?

You'll need:

• sheet of white construction paper • red construction paper strips • square of blue construction paper • silver adhesive stars • paper towel cardboard tube • tape • glue

What to do:

1. Give your child a sheet of white construction paper (8 1/2 inches x 11 inches).
2. Pre-cut red strips and help your child glue these stripes across the page, leaving a white space between each red strip.
3. Invite her to glue a pre-cut blue square in the upper left corner.
4. Encourage her to place silver adhesive stars on the blue square. (NOTE: The concept and colors are more important than the accuracy of the flag in this age group).
5. Tape the finished flag to a paper towel tube as a small flag pole (handle).

How to use:

1. As your child waves her new banner, sing this song about the American Flag. (Tune: "Frere Jacques"):

2. Red, white and blue; red, white and blue,
   Colors of our flag; colors of our flag.
   Red and white stripes, red and white stripes,
   Fifty stars too, fifty stars too!

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Let's name the three colors of the flag.
• Let's take a walk in town and look for American flags.

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills and language skills.