This document provides instructions for an exercise to teach students about the American and state flags. It directs students to 10 different educational websites to learn about flag history, symbolism, and the individual flags of each US state. Students are asked questions at each site to demonstrate their understanding. The goal is for students to better understand state identity and history through its flag.

1. Kellie Chapman
Topic: The American and State Flags
Grade Level: 5
Objective: This exercise will enable students to learn about the history regarding the
American flag and then identify flags for the fifty states in order to better understand a
state’s individual identity and history.
1. www.usa-flag-site.org
This site provides a complete resource for American flag history, etiquette, patriotic
pictures, and patriotic song lyrics.
(Go to the site, and click on flag history on the left side of the screen.)
Go to the site listed above. Click on flag history on the left side of the screen, and
then answer the following questions:
1) When was the first American flag made?
2) Who sewed the first American flag?
3) There are 13 stripes and 50 stars on the current American flag. What do the
stripes represent? What do the stars represent?
2. www.infoplease.com
This site gives the history of the American flag, including the history of the first
unofficial American flag, as well as the first official national flag. This site also
includes information on the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
(Go to the site, and information will automatically populate.)
Go to the site, and read the historical background on the American flag. Then answer
the following questions:
1) What is the name of the first unofficial national flag?
2) What is the name of the first official national flag?
3) Who wrote the poem the “Star-Spangled Banner” that later became the U.S.
National Anthem?

2. 3. www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html
This site describes rules and regulations regarding the flag of the United States of
America.
(Click on the link for the site, and scroll down the page to find the needed
information.)
Scroll down to the bottom of this site, and click on frame-by-frame animation to
observe the tutorial on the proper way to fold the American flag. List 3 rules or
regulations regarding the American flag that are listed on this site.
4. www.usflag.org
This site provides information about past and current historical content regarding the
American flag, as well as patriotic writings. This site also includes information about
Flag Day.
(Go to the site listed above, and select the history of the flag option.)
Go to the site listed above, and click on history of the flag. Next, click on the history
of Flag Day. Read the information, and answer the following questions:
1) What day of the year is Flag Day observed?
2) What was the date when congress designated National Flag Day, and who was
the president of the United States at that time?
5. www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/flags
This site provides U.S. state flag quiz worksheets containing flag quizzes for all fifty
states.
(Go to the site. Click on a specific state, and data will populate.)
Go to the site listed above, and select one of the fifty states. After selecting a
particular state flag, complete the quiz for that state.
6. www.factmonster.com/spot/stateflags1.html
This site includes U.S. state flag pictures for all fifty states. It also provides
additional information specific to each state, such as state capital, flower, and the rank
each state entered the union.

3. (Go to the site, and click on a specific state for the data to populate.)
Go to the site listed above, and select three of the fifty state flags. Answer the
following questions given on the site for each of the states you selected.
1) What is the capital of the state?
2) What is the state flower or tree?
3) What rank did the state enter the union?
7. www.50states.com/flag
This site includes a printable version of each of the fifty U.S. state flags and gives a
description of each.
(Go to the site, and click on a specific state for the data to populate.)
Go to site listed above, and find three states that have a seal on their flag. After
selecting three states, write a short description about the meaning of the seal for each
state.
8. www.netstate.com/state_flags.htm
This site provides a picture of all the flags of the various states in the union, as well as
a historical summary of each.
(Go to the site, and click on a specific state for the data to populate.)
Go to the site listed above, and select a particular state that you find interesting. After
selecting a specific state, please provide a one page summary about the history of that
state’s flag.
9. www.abcteach.com/directory/researchreports/flags/state_flags
This is a quality teacher-education site that offers printable black and white versions
of state flags.
(Go to the site, and click on a specific state for the data to populate.)
Go to the site listed above, and select a particular state. After you have selected a
particular state, print a copy of the flag by clicking on the print icon in the pdf file.
Once you have printed out a hard copy of the flag for the state you have chosen,

4. follow the directions, and color the flag in the appropriate colors. Colored pictures of
state flags can be found on any of the previous sites.
10. www.kidzone.ws/geography/usa
This site has various printable state emblems, such as the state flag, state map, and
state bird. It also has an activity worksheet for each state.
(Go to the site, and click on a specific state for the data to populate.)
On the site listed above, please select one state of interest. After selecting a particular
state, click on the page where it says “state map,” and print a copy of the map. Then
complete the assignment for that state.

5. WebQuest Answer Sheet
1. 1) May 1776
2) Betsy Ross
3) Stripes: The 13 original colonies
Stars: The 50 states in the Union.
2. 1) Grand Union Flag or the Continental Colours
2) Stars and Stripes
3) Francis Scott Key
3. Individual answers will vary but could include some of the following examples:
1) The flag should never touch anything beneath it.
2) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally.
3) The flag should never be displayed with the union down.
4. 1) June 14th
2) August 3, 1949; President Harry Truman
5. Individual answers will vary depending on which state a student selects.
6. Individual answers will vary depending on the state a student selects. For example, if a student
selects Utah, his/her answers would include the following:
1) Salt Lake City
2) Sego Lily or Blue Spruce
3) 45
7. Individual answers will vary depending on the three states a student selects. Answers should
include the name of three states that have a flag with a seal. For example, the Utah, South
Dakota, and Wyoming state flags all have state seals. The student should then provide a brief
description about the meaning of the three state seals. For example, the South Dakota state seal
represents a golden, blazing sun in a blue sky.
8. Individual answers will vary depending on the state a student selects. All student answers should
include a one page summary on the history of the particular state flag that the student selected.
9. Individual answers will vary depending on the state a student selects. For example, if a student
selects Alabama, he/she will print off the pdf file for Alabama, and then follow the directions
listed on the state’s specific pdf printout.

6. 10. Individual answers will vary depending on the state a student selects. For example, if a student
selects Alaska, he/she will print a copy of the map. Then the student will describe what he/she
has learned about Alaska.
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