Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 2 days
Kindergarten Social Studies Unit 03 Exemplar Lesson 02: United States Flag and Pledge
This lesson is one approach to teaching the State Standards associated with this unit. Districts are encouraged to customize this lesson by
supplementing with district-approved resources, materials, and activities to best meet the needs of learners. The duration for this lesson is
only a recommendation, and districts may modify the time frame to meet students’ needs. To better understand how your district may be
implementing CSCOPE lessons, please contact your child’s teacher. (For your convenience, please find linked the TEA Commissioner’s List of
State Board of Education Approved Instructional Resources and Midcycle State Adopted Instructional Materials.)
Lesson Synopsis
In this lesson, students are introduced to the United States flag. They learn that the flag is a symbol of our country. They learn to recite the
pledge of allegiance.
TEKS
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) listed below are the standards adopted by the State Board of Education, which are
required by Texas law. Any standard that has a strike-through (e.g. sample phrase) indicates that portion of the standard is taught in a
previous or subsequent unit. The TEKS are available on the Texas Education Agency website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?
id=6148.
K.1
History. The student understands that holidays are celebrations of special events. The student is expected to:
K.1A
Explain the reasons for national patriotic holidays such as Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day.
K.1B
Identify customs associated with national patriotic holidays such as parades and fireworks on
Independence Day.
K.10
Citizenship. The student understands important symbols, customs, and responsibilities that represent
American beliefs and principles and contribute to our national identity. The student is expected to:
K.10A Identify the flags of the United States and Texas.
K.10B Recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag and the Pledge to the Texas Flag.
Social Studies Skills TEKS
K.14
Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from
a variety of valid sources, including electronic technology. The student is expected to:
K.14B Obtain information about a topic using a variety of valid visual sources such as pictures, symbols,
electronic media, print material, and artifacts.
K.15
Social studies skills. The student communicates in oral and visual forms. The student is expected to:
K.15B Create and interpret visuals, including pictures and maps.
GETTING READY FOR INSTRUCTION
Performance Indicators
Kindergarten Social Studies Unit 03 PI 02
Create a picture of the United States flag and recite the U.S. pledge.
Standard(s): K.10A , K.10B , K.15B
ELPS ELPS.c.1E , ELPS.c.1F , ELPS.c.3D
Key Understandings
Symbols reflect our beliefs and help define us as a country.
Why do countries have flags?
What beliefs are reflected in the flag?
What does the U.S. flag look like?
How has it changed over time?
Why has it changed?
A pledge is a verbal promise.
What is a pledge?
Last Updated 05/15/13
Print Date 06/17/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
page 1 of 8 Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 2 days
Why and when do we recite the pledge?
Vocabulary of Instruction
symbol
flag
nation
state
pledge
allegiance
Materials
Information on the U.S. flag
paper shapes to make a flag
Picture book about the flag
red, white, and blue construction paper
small star
U.S. map with state outlines or globe
variety of flags
Attachments
All attachments associated with this lesson are referenced in the body of the lesson. Due to considerations for grading or student
assessment, attachments that are connected with Performance Indicators or serve as answer keys are available in the district site and are
not accessible on the public website.
Handout: Vocabulary Chronology Word Cards
Teacher Resource: Pledge of Allegiance
Teacher Resource: Flag Puzzle Instructions
Resources
None identified
Advance Preparation
1. Become familiar with content and procedures for the lesson, including the idea that one of the ways we can outwardly show our respect
for the Constitution and our country is by identifying and pledging to the symbols of our country and state, our flags.
2. Refer to the Instructional Focus Document for specific content to include in the lesson.
3. Select appropriate sections of the textbook and other classroom materials that support the learning for this lesson.
4. Preview materials and websites according to district guidelines.
5. Prepare materials and handouts as needed.
Post the words of the Pledge of Allegiance on chart paper (or enlarge the Teacher Resource: Pledge of Allegiance).
Print, cut apart, and prepare the Handout: Flag Cards and the Handout: Chronology Vocabulary Word Cards (1 set per
student or student pair). Laminate if possible, or print on card stock.
Print, cut apart, and prepare the Handout: Pledge Picture Clues (1 set per child and 1 for teacher). Laminate if possible,
or print on card stock.
Gather a variety of flags or pictures of flags. (In addition to real flags, an internet search can be conducted for pictures.
Conducting an Internet search for “U.S. flags” or “flags” will yield many options.)
Prepare the pieces for the puzzle activity. One set per student is recommended, and the teacher needs a sample:
rectangle (white, the size of the finished flag to be used as the base), 7 red stripes, 6 white stripes (the white background
could be used instead of white stripes), blue rectangle, 50 small white stars (or a blue rectangle with 50 stars drawn on it or
glued to it). See instructions in Teacher Resource: Flag Puzzle Instructions.
Locate patriotic music to make available during student work time or center time.
Background Information
Flags of the United States Prior to 1777 the patriots fought under the Grand Union flag. In 1777, the Continental Congress approved a new flag with 13 stripes and
13 stars representing the 13 colonies. Each time a state entered the union, one star and one stripe were added. In 1818, the U.S. Congress set the number of
stripes at 13 but agreed to continue to add a star for each new state.
Last Updated 05/15/13
Print Date 06/17/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
page 2 of 8 Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 2 days
GETTING READY FOR INSTRUCTION
Teachers are encouraged to supplement and substitute resources, materials, and activities to meet the needs of learners. These lessons are
one approach to teaching the TEKS/Specificity as well as addressing the Performance Indicators associated with each unit. District personnel
may create original lessons using the Content Creator in the Tools Tab. All originally authored lessons can be saved in the “My CSCOPE”
Tab within the “My Content” area.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
Instructional Procedures
ENGAGE – Introduction to the U.S. flag
Notes for Teacher
NOTE: 1 Day = 30 minutes
Suggested Day 1 - 5 minutes
1. Display a variety of flags. Actual flags or pictures may be used. These could
include flags from other countries, including flags representing the cultural
heritage of students in the class, flags from other states, college flags, scout
flags, school flags, etc. Included in the group should be a U.S. flag.
Materials:
2. Teacher guides students to identify the U.S. flag by asking questions such as:
variety of flags
Purpose:
Students begin to develop an understanding of the meaning of
flags as symbols of something larger.
What are these? (flags)
Do you recognize any of them?
TEKS: K.1A, K.1B, K.10A, K.10B, K. 15B.
What is the purpose of a flag?
Where have you seen flags before?
Instructional Notes:
Which flag is the flag of our country, the United States flag?
Where have you seen this flag before? (Encourage responses related to
Since students have been saying the Pledge of
celebrations including 4th of July, parades, in the classroom, etc. This will
Allegiance each day since the beginning of
come up again in Lesson 4.)
school, they should be relatively familiar with it.
Reciting it will be assessed later in this lesson.
EXPLORE – Learning about the U.S. flag
Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) ­ 10 minutes
1. Explain that the American flag is a symbol that represents the United States.
Materials:
A symbol stands for a person, thing, or event.
2. Show students the flag and have them look for the different shapes.
What shapes do you see on the flag? (rectangles, stars)
U.S. map with state outlines or globe
small star
paper shapes to make a flag
Attachments:
Handout: Flag Cards
3. Students point out the rectangles and stars on the flag. Guide students to
recognize the shapes as part of the flag.
4. Hold up the sample pieces for the flag activity: red stripes, white stripes, blue
rectangle and stars.
When we put all of these shapes together in the correct way, they
make our U.S. flag.
What colors are used on the flag?
Why do you think they chose these colors when they designed the
flag? Do you think the colors mean anything?
Purpose:
Students begin to understand the meaning of the colors,
stripes, and stars on the U.S flag.
TEKS: K.10A, K.10B, K. 15B.
Teacher Note:
Picture books that teach character traits such as bravery and
perseverance and picture books about the U.S. flag and pledge
should be available in the classroom library or listening center.
EXPLAIN – Learning the history of the U.S. flag
Suggested Day 1 (cont’d) ­ 15 minutes
1. Show students a picture of the first American flag and explain that this flag was
the first American flag.
Attachments:
Handout: Chronology Vocabulary Words
2. Show students a picture of the current American Flag and explain that this is the
flag we have today.
Purpose:
3. Ask: What is the same about these two flags?
4. Ask: What is different about these two flags?
5. Distribute the cards from the Handout: Chronology Vocabulary Words.
Students (in pairs or groups of 4) describe the flags using the chronology
words.
Last Updated 05/15/13
Print Date 06/17/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
Students begin to develop an understanding of the changes
the flag has undergone over time and practice using words
showing chronological relationships.
TEKS: K.10A, K.10B, K. 15B.
Instructional Note:
page 3 of 8 Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 2 days
To enhance the lesson have music available to play while
students are working or at the listening center during center
time. Conduct an internet search for patriotic music for
children.
ENGAGE/EXPLORE – Learning about the pledge
Suggested Day 2 - 10 minutes
1. Read an age-appropriate picture book about the U.S. Flag.
Materials:
2. After reading the book, display the Pledge of Allegiance (if desired, use the
Teacher Resource: Pledge of Allegiance)and briefly explain the meaning of
the words in the pledge of allegiance:
Pledge – promise
Allegiance – loyalty, faithfulness
United States of America – our country (point to map)
Republic – a group who is governed by a democracy
Stands – a symbol
Nation – a group of people who live under the rule of a government
Indivisible – unable to be split apart
Liberty – freedom to make decisions for yourself
Justice – when everyone is treated fairly
For all – every citizen of the United States of America
Picture book about the flag
Attachments:
Teacher Resource: Pledge of Allegiance.
Purpose:
Students learn the meaning of the pledge they say each
morning.
TEKS: K.10A, K.10B, K. 15B.
3. Point to the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Lead students in saying the Pledge of Allegiance while pointing to the posted
words.
5. Continue discussion about the pledge by asking:
Why do we say this every morning? (Pledge means promise. When we
pledge to the flag, we are making a promise to honor or care about the
flag, a symbol of our country. When we honor the flag, because it is a
symbol of our country, we are promising to honor our country. To
honor means to be loyal or to be “a friend” to the flag and the United
States.)
6. Repeat the pledge, this time showing the picture clues that go with each phrase.
(See the Handout: Pledge Picture Clues) Using picture clues will help students
remember the words.
EXPLAIN
Suggested Day 2 (cont’d) ­ 10 minutes
1. Continue to display the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attachments:
2. Working in pairs, students again practice saying the pledge of allegiance, this
time to one another.
Teacher Resource: Pledge of Allegiance.
Purpose:
Students practice reciting the pledge.
TEKS: K.10A, K.10B, K. 15B.
Instructional Note:
Provide a plastic bag to each student in which he/she can
place their picture clues. These may be taken home to share
with their families.
ELABORATE – Respect for the flag
Suggested Day 2 (cont’d) ­ 5 minutes
1. Facilitate a discussion about the lesson’s Key Understandings and Guiding
Questions:
Materials:
Symbols reflect our beliefs and help define us as a country.
Why do countries have flags?
What beliefs are reflected in the flag?
What does the U.S. flag look like?
How has it changed over time?
Why has it changed?
A pledge is a verbal promise.
Last Updated 05/15/13
Print Date 06/17/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
Cub Scout manual (or other source of
information on the U.S. flag (Optional)
page 4 of 8 Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03
Lesson: 02
Suggested Duration: 2 days
What is a pledge?
Why and when do we recite the pledge?
2. Continue the discussion by asking students how we show respect for the flag.
3. Students discuss the customs and traditions surrounding the flag and the
pledge. (A person stands and places his right hand on his heart to salute the
flag and when saying the Pledge of Allegiance.)
4. Teacher and students demonstrate and show pictures (perhaps from Cub Scout
manual).
EVALUATE – Have students achieved mastery?
Kindergarten Social Studies Unit 03 PI 02
Create a picture of the United States flag and recite the U.S. pledge.
Standard(s): K.10A , K.10B , K.15B
ELPS ELPS.c.1E , ELPS.c.1F , ELPS.c.3D
1. Students complete the flag puzzle activity. (See Teacher Resource: Flag Puzzle
Instructions.)
Suggested Day 2 (cont’d) ­ 5 minutes
Materials:
red, white, and blue construction paper
Attachments
Teacher Resource: Flag Puzzle Instructions
2. As students work to put their flags together, evaluate each student reciting the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Last Updated 05/15/13
Print Date 06/17/2013 Printed By Karen Johnson, MIDLAND ISD
page 5 of 8 Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03 Lesson: 02
Chronology Vocabulary Word Cards
before
after
next
first
last
©2012, TESCCC
03/08/12
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Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03 Lesson: 02
Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance
to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God,
indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
Pledge of allegiance. (1954). Retrieved from http://publications.usa.gov/epublications/ourflag/pledge.htm
©2013, TESCCC
05/15/13
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Kindergarten
Social Studies
Unit: 03 Lesson: 02
Flag Puzzle Instructions

Find and print a template of an American flag. (Possible sources include district textbook
resources, online sources.)

On a copy machine, enlarge the size of the flag to a full page so that the graphic takes up the
entire 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper.

Make enough copies so that each student will have two sheets.

Make a sample puzzle by coloring one sheet accurately to depict the colors in the American
flag. Laminate this colored sheet and a blank flag sheet. The colored sheet will serve as the
puzzle pieces and the blank sheet will serve as the puzzle board. Cut the pieces of the colored
sheet so that there are seven red stripes, six white stripes, and a blue rectangle with fifty stars.
There should be fourteen puzzle pieces in all.

Use self-adhesive Velcro, tape, or “sticky-tack” and attach it to the puzzle pieces and the
puzzle board. (This will ensure that the pieces will not fall off of the board when demonstrating
how to make the puzzle and also reduces the possibility of students losing the pieces when
playing with the puzzle.)

Model with students how to “build” the U.S. flag.

Have students build their own flag, coloring the pieces appropriately and placing them in the
correct place.

Pairs can work together and then take turns placing a piece.
©2012, TESCCC
03/08/12
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