Citizenship :
Lesson 5
(Days 15-21)
Concepts: Patriotism/Citizenship
Essential Questions:
 What country do we live in?
 What is Patriotism?
 How do we show Patriotism?
 What symbols stand for the United States?
Outcomes/Indicators:
1.A.2.a Identify common symbols, such as the American Flag and the Statue of Liberty.
1.A.2.b Recognize that saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “The Star-Spangled
Banner” are practices associated with being a citizen.
3.A.1. Recognize that a globe and maps are used to help people locate places.
Assessments:
Dimensions of Learning:
Dimension 1 – Attitudes and perceptions about learning-Classroom Climate-Classroom
Tasks
Dimension 2 – Acquiring Declarative Knowledge
Dimension 3 – Extend and Refine Knowledge
Dimension 4 – Using Knowledge Meaningfully
Dimension 5 – Productive Habits of Mind
Resources/Materials
o Google Earth or Mapquest Maps
o United Streaming Clip: U.S. Symbols
o United Streaming Song: Teachers and the Rockbots – Symbols of America
o Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Rolls
o Red/Yellow/Orange Tissue Paper
o Sentence Strips
o Construction Paper
Suggested Reading:
 Arthur Meets the President by Marc Brown
 The Impossible Patriotism Project by Linda Skeers
 What Freedom Means to Me: A Flag Day Story by Heather French Henry
 Patriotism by Lucia Raatma
 Me on a Map
 Welcome Books: Titles in the American Symbols Series by Scholastic
Suggested Resources:
 Helping Your Child Become a Responsible Citizen by U.S. Dept. of Ed.
Time Frame: Discretion of teachers
Warm up:
Whole Group:
Day 1:
o Ask students where they live (answers may vary). Challenge them to think about where
else they may live (country, city, state, street, etc.). Record answers on chart paper.
o Read Me on a Map by or another map text. Discuss various locations that the main
character “lives” and add to chart.
o Show students where they go to school using Google Earth or Mapquest Maps. Zoom out
to the city/town.
o Ask students if they know what state they live in. Zoom out to the state of Maryland.
o Ask students if they know what country the state of Maryland is located in. Zoom out to
USA.
o Discuss how we all live in a large community (country) and a small community (city).
Discuss how these communities are all part of an even larger community and ask if
students know what it is. Zoom out to show the Earth.
o Review by zooming back in to school while naming each location.
o Explain to students that they will now use pictures to show that each place they live is
part of a larger community.
o Send students back to groups to use picture manipulatives to show various locations and
how they are smaller pieces of a big puzzle. Students will work collaboratively using
pictures of Earth, USA, Maryland, and school to show where they live by layering
pictures on top of each other.
Day 2:
o Reread “A Good Citizen” poem. Discuss that good citizens love their community/country
– they show patriotism.
o Give students time to turn and talk about how they show love and respect for their
country.
o Once students have had enough time to turn and talk, begin discussion by allowing
students to share the ways they show love and respect for their country. Document
student responses on chart paper. As students give examples, guide discussion to
eliminate non-examples and stress good examples.
o Introduce the story The Impossible Patriotism Project by telling the students that the story
is about a little boy who has to make a project showing patriotism, but has a hard time
deciding what to do because he’s not completely sure what patriotism is.
o Read story. Stop periodically (as you see fit) to discuss major points.
o Review what patriotism is. Discuss and add to chart the different ways students from the
story show patriotism.
Day 3:
o Review what patriotism is. Explain that being patriotic also means that we should respect
the country’s symbols.
o Discuss what a symbol is (an object that represents something else). Identify familiar
symbols and what they mean to us (McDonald’s Golden Arches, Ravens logo, etc.)
o Display pictures of U.S. Symbols (flag, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, White House,
Bald Eagle). Explain that these are some of the U.S. Symbols we will be talking about.
o Watch United Streaming Clip – U.S. Symbols (Introduction)
Day 4:
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Review U.S. Symbols pictures.
Watch U.S. Symbols Clip – The Flag.
Make an American Flag (can be integrated art center).
Say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Day 5:
o Review U.S. Symbols pictures.
o Watch U.S. Symbols Clips – The Statue of Liberty and The Liberty Bell.
o Create Statue of Liberty Crown and Torch (can be integrated art center).
Day 6:
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Day 7:
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Review U.S. Symbols pictures.
Watch U.S. Symbols Clip – The Bald Eagle.
Read informational text about The White House.
Review the symbols using “Symbols of America” United Streaming Song.
Make Flip-Book of U.S. Symbols.
Read Arthur Meets the President by Marc Brown or other U.S. Symbols text.
Review U.S. Symbols with pictures and/or United Streaming Song.
Complete U.S. Symbols Sort worksheet.
Have parade marching to patriotic songs (collaborate with your Music or I.A. teachers) to
demonstrate patriotism.
Evaluation:
o U.S. Symbols Sort worksheet
o U.S. Symbols Flip-Book
Closure: