Holly Whitt
Social Studies Book Talk
Date Taught:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The Flag we Love
By Pam Munoz Ryan
Related SOL’s
K.9
The student will recognize the American flag and the Pledge of
Allegiance and know that the president is the leader of the United
States.
K.1
The student will recognize that history describes events and people
of other times and places by
a) identifying examples of past events in legends, stories, and
historical accounts of Powhatan, Pocahontas, George Washington,
Betsy Ross, and Abraham Lincoln;
b) Identifying the people and events honored by the holidays of
Thanksgiving Day; Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; Presidents’ Day;
and Independence Day (Fourth of July).
The student will demonstrate that being a good citizen involves
g) Participating successfully in group settings.
K.8
Questions asked during book talk
Introduction
Show cover and read the title
Ask students, what does the word flag start with? (F or they may say the
sound fff)
Turn to the last page and show students the picture of the flag.
Why do you think the flag is not drawn straight? (It’s blowing in the
wind, its wrinkled)
How many stripes do you see? Let’s count together: 13
Explain to students that the stripes are a symbol for the first
thirteen colonies of the United States.
Explain that the stars represent the 50 states. Since we live in the
state of Virginia, we have a star on the flag for Virginia.
As we read, ask students to find the flag on each page as we read.
Remember to stay seated and find it in your head. When you find it give us a
thumbs up.
Development
Pg. 1
Ask students to find the flag on the page, and give a thumbs up when they
see it.
Explain a symbol: A symbol stands for something.
Question: What is a symbol of our country? (Flag)
Read first paragraph.
Pg. 2
Question: What colors do you see in the flag? (Red, White, Blue)
Question: What are the hands doing? (Sewing, holding the flag, holding a
needle)
The hands are sewing the flag together. Explain another word for sewing is
stitching.
Read whole page
Pg. 3
Question: Do you have a flag in the classroom? (yes)
Question: Can you point to it?
Read whole page
Pg. 4
Question: Do you say the pledge of allegiance in the morning? (Yes)
Question: Where do you hold your hand? Can you show me? (students should
hold their hand over their heart)
Read whole page
Pg. 5 skip
Pg. 6
Question: What type of transportation do you see? (Train)
Question: Where is the flag? (On the front of the train, on both sides of
the train)
Pg. 7
Question: What type of transportation do you see? (Airplane)
Question: Where is the flag? (Falling in the sky, behind the airplane)
Sometimes flags are dropped to show remembrance of our country.
Pg. 8
Question: What do you see the children doing in the picture? (Waving flags,
playing drums, playing horns, dolls, marching, riding in a wagon)
Explain the children are walking in a parade to celebrate the Fourth of July
to celebrate our country.
Pg. 9
Question: Do you play a sport? Give me a thumbs up if you play a sport?
People who play sports are called athletes just like the man in this picture.
The American flag is shown all across the country at games.
Pg. 10
Question: What type of transportation do you see? (Boat, big ship, water)
Question: Where is the flag?
Read page
Pg. 11
Question: Where do you think the person in the picture is? (On the moon, in
space)
We call people who go to space Astronauts
Question: Can you find the flag?
Read page
Pg. 12
Question: How many flags do you see on this page? Let’s count: 11
We call heroes someone who makes a brave choice even when they are
scared. Our country has a lot of heroes and we celebrate them with the
American flag.
Read page
Pg. 13
A Citizen is a member of a community and country.
Question: Are you a citizen?
Yes!
You are even part of Community here in Mrs. Harlow’s class.
Read page
Pg. 14
Question: What do you see in the sky? (Fireworks)
We shoot fireworks on the Fourth of July and other holidays to celebrate
our country and we wave the flag a symbol.
Read page
Pg. 15
Question: Can you find the flag?
Question: Is it big or small? (Small)
Question: Does the small flag on his shirt mean the same thing as the flag in
your class?
Yes. It doesn’t matter the size, because the red and white stripes and stars
are symbol of our country no matter what.
Read page
Closing
Pg. 16
Read page
So the flag is a symbol of our country and it can be found in many places.
Question: What was one place that you can find the flag? (School, sports
and other games, the moon, on boats, trains and planes, the sky, etc.)