Bryna and Valeta's Best Ideas for Teaching Patriotism
Unit Plan: Patriotism

Lesson Plan Title: Veteran's Day, a Chance to Honor Those Who Served Our Country

Grade Level: 3–5

Duration: Two 40–50 minutes sessions

Student Goals:

• The students will be able to understand that many of the liberties we enjoy in America today were earned by the patriotism shown by veterans.
• The students will recognize some of the symbols, songs and pledges that represent our country and which have a very special significance to veterans.

Student Objectives:

• The students will be able to define the term "veteran" and name the date we celebrate the holiday.
• The students will be able to properly fold the American flag.
• The students will be able to name at least two American symbols, songs, or pledges that are important to veterans.

Materials:

• 2003 Veterans Day Teacher's Guide from The Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
• Patriotic Words Defined (PDF)
• pictures of men and women as community workers, civilians, and in military uniforms from all branches of the service
• Young Patriots by Carole Marsh (pages 14, 24, 25, 30, 34, 35)
• Patriotic Monuments and Memorials by Melissa Hart (page 15)
• Patriotic Puzzlers by Mary Ellen Sterling and Susan Schumann Nowlin (page 42)
• Our Flag by Polly Hoffman (pages 12, 13, 44)
• pictures or actual items from the American flag, Star Spangled Banner, and Pledge of Allegiance
• tape to attach pictures to the chalkboard
• patriotic music (If you have a music teacher, she may have something you could borrow.)

Set Up and Prepare:

• Make transparency of Patriotic Words Defined.
• Visit the Veterans Day Web site to get background information on Veterans Day and the flag.
• Gather pictures of various community, civilian, and military personnel and tape them to the chalkboard in three different groups (community service, civilian, military).
• Xerox a class set of page 44 from Our Flag.
• Xerox a class set of page 42 from Patriotic Puzzlers.

Directions: Patriotism is a word young children hear so often, but we seldom discuss what it means. It's usually a concept that is better defined as a "feeling." Veterans Day is a perfect time to discuss with students that one of the ways American citizens show their patriotism, or love for one's country, is by serving in the Armed Forces.

Day 1
Step 1: Have page one of the Patriotic Words transparency on the overhead. Turn on the overhead and read aloud all the definitions on pages one and two. "Today we're going to talk about Veterans Day and veterans. Let me show you some people and you tell me who they are." Point to each group taped to the chalkboard. Ask the students if they know who these people are. After each group has been identified, the teacher needs to pull a few pictures of men and women from each group and form a new group, identifying them as "veterans." Place the Patriotic Words transparency on the overhead so that the word "veteran" is showing and read the definition aloud again. "All the people in the veteran group have served in the Armed Forces. They may or may not have served during a war, but they are still considered 'Veterans.' We have a special holiday, called Veterans Day that we celebrate on Novomber 11 each year to honor all the men and women who served in the Armed Services and/or fought in a war for the United States."

Step 2: Pass out the page "Veterans Day" (page 44 in Our Flag) and read it together. Point out when the first Veterans Day took place (1918). Do a math problem to figure out how long we've celebrated this holiday (85 years). Let the students share any knowledge or stories they may have about people they know who have served in the Armed Forces. (At this point I would share pictures, medals earned, and stories about my experiences as a 2nd Lt. in the USAF while serving in Germany.)

Step 3: Pass out page 42 from Patriotic Puzzlers for the students to do in small groups. Share the answers to finish up this session.

Assess Students:
The teacher will informally evaluate the students by listening to their conversations and ascertaining whether or not they have a clear idea of who and what a veteran is and why we recognize them with their own special day.

Evaluate Lesson:
Were the children actively engaged in the information being given? Did they seem to enjoy what they were learning? Would they benefit by a visit from a veteran?

Day 2 — American symbols and songs that are special to veterans

Materials:

• 2003 Veterans Day Teacher's Guide from The Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
• pictures of men and women as community workers, civilians, and in military uniforms from all branches of the service
• Young Patriots by Carole Marsh (pages 16, 24, 25, 30)
• Our Flag by Polly Hoffman (pages 12, 13, 14)
• pictures or actual items from an American flag, Star Spangled Banner, military uniforms from all branches of the Armed Forces, and the Pledge of Allegiance
• patriotic music

Set Up and Prepare:

• Visit the Veterans Day Web site to get background information on Veterans Day and the flag.
• Xerox a class set of pages 11,12 and 14 from Our Flag.
• Xerox a class set of pages 16, 24, 25 and 30 from Patriotic Puzzlers.
• Have patriotic music playing softly in the background.
• Set up a display of the patriotic symbols, songs, pledges and military uniforms in one section of the classroom.
• Print out directions on how to fold the flag from the Veterans Day Teacher's Guide.
• Print out a black line master of the flag from the Veterans Day Web site.

Directions: "Now that we have a clear idea of who and what a veteran is, we should know that there are certain American symbols, songs, pledges and clothing that are especially important to veterans."

Step 1: Have all pictures or actual items of the symbols, songs, and uniforms displayed in a section of the classroom. "Veterans love the flag for the colors and what they stand for (red is for valor or bravery; white is for purity and goodness; blue is for justice and fairness). These are the qualities all veterans tried to achieve while serving their country in the Armed Forces. Veterans have the utmost respect for their country's flag and know when to fly the flag (Presidents Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day).

They know the rules for displaying the flag (handout page 11-12 of Our Flag) such as: never leave the flag out in bad weather; never let the flag touch the ground; no flag should ever be placed above the U.S. flag on a flagpole; the flag shouldn't be used in advertising; a flag in poor condition should be destroyed by burning; a flag should be flown near every school during school hours. When the national anthem is playing and a flag is displayed, all people should face the flag and salute.

Step 2: While discussing the flag, have patriotic music playing softly in the background. As the students are practicing folding the flag, turn the music up so they may hear the music and words. Point out some of the military theme songs for the Army, Air Force, and Marines if they are included in your CD or tape. Explain that the veterans would march to music like this during formal parades.

Step 3: The Pledge of Allegiance, written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy of Boston, Massachusetts, is our national promise of loyalty to the United States. Veterans take this pledge very seriously, because they are very patriotic. (In our class, we've learned to say the pledge in American Sign Language.) Pass out page 14 from Our Flag for each child. Have a copy of the pledge on the wall so that the students may see the words as you read them aloud together.

Step 4: The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. The words, written by Francis Scott Key, can bring a tear to many an adult's eye when it is played. Page 24-25 in Young Patriots gives a simple history of our flag and has illustrations for each phrase in the anthem. The children should enjoy reading the history and later coloring the pictures.

Step 5: Finish up your time together by allowing the students to color the pictures of the uniforms from the different branches of the Armed Services (page 30, Young Patriots) while listening to the patriotic songs on CD or tape. For those that finish quickly, you could also have page 16 from Young Patriots, which is a handout on She's A Grand Old Flag.

Assess Students:
The next class period the children will write one paragraph telling me what they learned about veterans and Veterans Day. This writing will go in their writing portfolio.

Evaluate Lesson:
A visit from a local VFW Post or High School JROTC program would be exciting for the children. Letting the children try on the uniforms and ask questions of real veterans would bring the subject more to life. Did the students learn what I set out to teach?