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The American Flag

When you say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning, do you ever wonder why you are pledging to a flag? What is the history of our flag? Why are the colors on the flag red, white, and blue? Become an expert on our country's flag!

Before we begin, try to answer the following questions:

• What do the red, white, and blue colors of the flag represent?
  
  
• Who designed the flag?
  
  
• Why is the flag called "Old Glory"?
  
  

Go to http://www.libertynet.org/iha/betsy/index.html and click the link that says "See the FAQs" to check your answers. Add any new information you learned to your answers above. What is a FAQ?


Scroll back up the page and look at some flags of our country in the Picture Gallery. Why did the flag have to be changed so often? What would cause it to change again?

You can learn more about our country's flag at http://www.icss.com/usflag/toc.html, including how the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem came about. Click on each of the links listed under The History of . . ., then make a time line of important events in the history of the American flag and how we honor it.

Extension Activity

Design a flag for your class. Be able to explain why you chose the colors and symbols that you used in your design.