THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
I. Topic/Grade Level: Social Studies/ Grade Level: 1
Standards: For the California Content State Standards for Social Studies/History, they
are integrated into the ELA CCSS.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.2
Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.3
Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of
information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.4
Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and
phrases in a text.
II. Goals and Student Learning Outcomes:
Goal: The goals of this lesson are for the first grade students to be able to understand the
vocabulary and meaning behind the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Learning Outcomes: The students will be able to recite the pledge with proper
etiquette.
Goal 1: Students will be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Learning Outcome 1: Given practice in class using the words to the Pledge of
Allegiance posted in the classroom, the students will be able to recite the Pledge of
Allegiance without error.
Goal 2: Students will be able to comprehend vocabulary specific to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Learning Outcome 2: Write or speak on one fact about the Pledge of Allegiance given
the class discussion, without error.
III. Learning Environment(s):
 The learning environment will take place in the classroom.
IV. Resources:
 The American Flag
 The Pledge of Alleiance words posted in front of the classroom
 Vocabulary Handout and/or Powerpoint
 Pledge of Allegiance meaning in pictures/words
 Pledge of Allegiance meaning video
V. Diversity / Differentiation:
 Students with special needs and EL learners.
For those students who are handicapped and are unable to rise during the Pledge of
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Allegiance, they will be instructed to maintain the remainder of the proper etiquette
as they say the pledge aloud. The teacher will also make sure those students who
are handicapped are placed in the front of the classroom so they can see the flag.
Those who have difficulty with the English Language will be taught the proper ettique, and
be allowed to stand quietly during the recital.
VI. Technology Inclusion:
 Technology: iPad, translator applications, Powerpoint, YouTube.
VII.
Prior Knowledge: Prior to this lesson, students have visiualy identified the US Flag. They
have basic knowledge of the colors and symbols (stars and stripes).
Lesson Placement in the Unit: This is lesson _1_ of _6__.
VIII. Procedures:
1. Lesson Introduction / Anticipatory Set:
“Good morning first graders! This morning we are going to start to learn about
our country, the United States of America. We are going to begin by learning
how to recite the pledge as well as the meaning of it.” The instructor will have
the words to the Pledge of Allegiance posted for all children to see using the
overhead, projector, or written on the chalkboard. Also, the instructor will display
the American Flag somewhere in the room.
2. Direct Instruction:
 Teacher will show a YouTube video (https://youtu.be/vn6MnYJNSUw)
 explaining the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance and will introduce the
students to important terms and vocabulary. Teacher will display a vocabulary list
on the overhead/powerpoint with both the words and their meaning.
 The instructor will relate the words to the children’s lives when appropriate to help
the students better understand the words. The instructor will go through the words
with the students practicing both the pronunciation of the words as well as the
meaning.
 If the students still need clarification, they may use a dictionary application on an
iPad in order to understand terms or look up pictures that relate to the words.
 Once the students understand the vocabulary in the pledge, the instructor
will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the class, while modeling the proper
etiquette. Next, the instructor will ask the first grade students to read the
pledge along with him or her using the words posted in the room as a guide.
 Finally, the instructor will ask volunteers to read the pledge aloud.
3. Student Interaction with lesson content / Guided Practice:
Describe how students will participate and interact with the lesson content.
After all of the students feel comfortable reading the pledge, the instructor
will give handouts that explain the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance in
pictures. The instructor will have a copy of both the meaning in
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words and pictures that he or she can use to explain the meaning of each
section to the students. The instructor will ensure that the students are
involved in the discussion by asking questions and requiring that the
students to read/recite the pledge throughout the discussion.
4. Independent Practice:
Working in groups, with partners, individually etc. Describe what project, students will
be working on during this section of the lesson. Will this be done during class? As
homework?
 The students will be broken into small groups (3-4 students).
 The instructor will have the students practice saying the Pledge of Allegiance
using the proper etiquette, modeled by the instructor. The students will be
encouraged to read the pledge from memory, but can use the words posted if
needed.
 As the students recite the pledge with the proper etiquette, the teacher will walk
around the room to make sure that all students are performing correctly.
5. Review / Closure:
How will the teacher wrap up the lesson before students are dismissed.
 To conclude, the teacher will ask the students to write/speak about one thing
that they learned about the Pledge of Allegiance.
 The teacher will then close the lesson with a group recital of the Pledge of
Allegiance.
6. Presentations:
Include this section if students share their work with the class. Formats include
PowerPoint, Prezi, Keynote etc., videos, or other means of media to communicate their
learning. This section should be listed further up in this lesson plan format as it occurs
in the lesson.
IX. Evaluation/Assessment:
1. Identify formative and summative assessment of student engagement, homework, media
presentations. Include rubrics, or other forms of assessment.
The assessments that will take place include the “ticket out of the door” as well as
the instructor’s observation of the students displaying proper etiquette while
reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The “ticket out of the door” requires each student
to write down/speak one new thing that they learned in class about the Pledge of
Allegiance.
X. References: In APA, cite your references used in this lesson. This includes textbooks, other
literature, videos, websites, and any other sources.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts Reading: Informational Text »
Grade 1. (2013, March 21). Retrieved May 11, 2015, from
http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_ELA Standards.pdf
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Pledge of Allegiance First 1st Grade Social Studies Standards. (2015, January 4).
Retrieved May 9, 2015, from
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help/governance_civics_pledge_of_alle
giance_first_1st_grade_social_studies.htm
https://youtu.be/vn6MnYJNSUw
https://youtu.be/4-l4NIblP98