Literacy Project
Literacy Project
Literacy Project:
Content Area Literature Class
Amber Teel
Missouri Southern State University
LITERACY PROJECT
This literacy project is over the significance of the American flag and Pledge of
Allegiance. I picked this top because it goes with a Social Studies GLE for kindergarten that
addressed identify the flag as a symbol of our nation and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. All
the resources I used for this project relate back to one or if not both of these topics. Many of
them deal with them directly.
This literacy project includes several various resources besides a textbook to teach a unit
about the American Flag and Pledge of Allegiance. The first components include a vocabulary
self awareness chart and vocabulary word sort, which meets the Common Core State Standard
about asking questions about unknown words in a text and determining the meaning of words
and phrases in a text relevant to a kindergarten topic or subject area.
Also, this literacy project consists of a shared reading and a question answer relationship
instructional strategy; both of these things apply comprehension skills. During these things
students think critically, predict, use context clues, use prior knowledge, and questioning. The
shared reading is something I, the teacher, would model for the students so they are able to use
that strategy why reading. The question answer relationship strategy would be used after the
reading of a text or passage, as a way to measure comprehension. The Common Core State
Standards in these to areas focuses on using key detail from the text to answer questions.
The final three components of this literacy project are note taking, graphic organizer, and
performance task. These are all types of instructional strategies that I would use during and after
reading a text. These also focus on Common Core State Standards that apply the use of key
details from the text. The performance task is like a combination of all the strategies used in this
literacy project.
LITERACY PROJECT
By incorporating all these resource and strategies it allows me to cover many of the
essentials areas needed in not only in Social Studies but also Language Arts and Reading. The
skills student learns during this lesson plan and other like it will not only carry over into other
subject areas but also into their lives.
LITERACY PROJECT
GLE:
SS1.K.D Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation. Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Two Magazine Articles:
Drevitch, G. (2002). 10 ways to teach kids to love America. Parents magazine, Retrieved
from http://www.parents.com/holiday/july-4th/traditions/10-ways-to-teach-kids- tolove-america/
10 Ways to teach kids to love America is a great tool for teachers and parents. This article
is a guide for teaching children what makes America special. Not only does this article
talk about our flag and the Pledge, but it also talks about our communities, our rights, and
so much more.
Frank, M. (2012). Stars & stripes. Kids discover magazine, Retrieved from
http://www.kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/stars-stripes-for-kids/
Stars & Stripes takes the reader through the history of the American flag. Also, including
how to care for the flag and what it stands for.
Two Newspaper Articles:
King, E. (1991, June 4). Students form giant American flag. The Baltimore Sun.
Retrieved from http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-06-04/news/1991155171_1_fortmchenry-american-flag-students
3,000 Students from all over Maryland came together to create a football size American
flag. Students held red, white and blue pieces of cardboard over their heads, to create the
American flag.
Thatcher-Ulrich, L. (2010, May 7). Star-Spangled story. The New York Times. Retrieved
LITERACY PROJECT
from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/books/review/Ulrich-t.html?_r=0
Betsy Ross is known for making the first American flag. However, many historians
dismiss this fact due to the lack of evidence. This article discusses the real Betsy Ross
and her life.
Three Nonfiction Texts:
Jones, R. C., & Geer, C. (1988). The Biggest (and Best) Flag That Ever Flew. Centreville, MD:
Tidewater.
This text tells about the story of Caroline Pickergill. Carolines mother made flags for a
living. She was hired to make the biggest and best American flag in the world.
Scott, F. & Morrison, K (2008). Oh Say! Can You See. Berkhamsted, Herts: Make Believe Ideas.
This nonfiction text contains a CD of 10 patriotic songs and history of America. In
addition, it contains poetic texts on each page.
Thomson, S.L. (2008) American Flag Q & A. New York: Collins.
This text contains many photos and fun facts about flags. Along, with Smithsonian
websites and exhibits.
Three Fiction Texts:
Juba, S. (2011). The flag keeper. [Kindle DX version] Retrieved from Amazon.com
This book is a great resource for teaching students about American flag etiquette. Not
only does it include etiquette but discussion questions, facts and activities.
Georgopolis, A. (2005). An American flag for their father. Exeter, NH: PublishingWorks
This is a story of two children whose father is a soldier stationed over seas. They are
wanted to find a huge flag for his homecoming.
White, B. (2011). Betsy Ross. New York, NY: Holiday House.
LITERACY PROJECT
This is a great fictional story of how Betsy Ross made the American Flag. Also, it get
students involved by having them create their own Betsy Ross star.
Poem/ Music Lyrics:
Streufert, D. (2005) The Pledge of Allegiance. Usflag.org. Retrieved from http://www.usflag.org
This site provides students with a visual of the words to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visual:
Usevtsnetwork. (2013, March 17). The Pledge of Allegiance. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KfZQlfZQ9E
This video provides students with the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Two Childrens Picture Books:
Lewis, W. (2002). F is for flag. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.
F is For Flag is a picture book that explains what the American flag stands for.
Douglas, L .G. (2003) The American Flag. New
York, NY: Children's.
This is a picture book that provides readers with the history of the American flag and
other American symbols.
Two Websites:
Streufert, D. (2005) Flag etiquette. Usflag.org. Retrieved from
http://www.usflag.org/flag.etiquette.html
This website has a list of all the correct flag etiquette.
Durr, J. (2014). 30 American flag crafts. Kids activities Blog. Retrieved from
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53337/30-american-flag-crafts
This site is a great resource for crafts and activities for students to do.
LITERACY PROJECT
Vocabulary Self-Awareness Chart
The Pledge of Allegiance
You will use this chart throughout the unit. By the end of the unit should have the entire chart
completed. Because you will be revising this chart, write in pencil.
Word
Pledge
Allegiance
Republic
Nation
Indivisible
Liberty
Justice
+
+
Example
My friend
pledged to
always be on
my team.
Loyalty
Definition
The act of
making a
promise or
commitment.
LITERACY PROJECT
First, model the process of using this chart for students prior to the reading. After modeling, have
the students fill out the chart. Students should continue to fill out the chart and revise their
responses while we read and discuss the Pledge of Allegiance. This will allow students to
observe their knowledge gain of the terms/concepts throughout the lesson. This also allows the
classroom to observe each students knowledge level throughout the lesson.
LITERACY PROJECT
Word Sort
F is For Flag
Lewis, W. (2002). F is for flag. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.
SS1DK Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation.
R1K4 With prompting and support, ask and questions about unknown words in a text.
Directions: As a class we will go over unknown words from the text, as we write them on the
board. I will place students in pairs and provide each pair with their own book. Each pair will
also get a sheet of paper with one of the unknown words on it. Then with their partner they will
look for the word in the book. When they find the word in the book, they are to look at the
illustration and surrounding words to help them identify the meaning of the unknown word.
Once they think they know the meaning they are to draw the meaning of that word on their
paper. We will then come back as a class and sort the words into the follow three categories:
Symbols, People, and Places. Each pair will bring their word up and place it under the category
to which they believe it belongs. They will then explain why they believe it belongs in that
category. As a class we will discuss if we agree or disagree and why.
Symbols
People
Places
Betsy Ross
Old Glory
George Washington
Country
Star-Spangled Banner
Stars and Stripes
Pledge of Allegiance
States
LITERACY PROJECT
10
This word sort could be given before or after students read F is For Flag. This would be a way to
assess how much the students know about the Flag and what it stands for before reading the text,
by just using context clues. Then after the students have read the story they could do this word
sort again as a checking for understanding assignment.
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LITERACY PROJECT
Question Answer Relationship (QAR)
APA Reference(s)
Thomson, S.L. (2008) American Flag Q & A. New York: Collins.
Content Standards
SS 1DK - Identify the flag as a symbol
CCSS ELA Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Class directions:
As a class we will read the book, American Flag Q & A. Then, as a class, students will
respond to each question. In their journal they will draw or write their response.
IN THE TEXT
Right There questions
IN YOUR HEAD
Author and You questions
Question
1.Name the nickname for the
American Flag.
2. Name the two groups who were
involved in the Civil War?
Answer
Stars and Stripes
Promise
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LITERACY PROJECT
3
Student stated what
their flag would look
like. They provided 1
detail about their flag.
Explained why they
made it looks that way
and what it stands
form.
(Verbally, Writing, or
Illustrating)
2
Student stated what
their flag would look
like. They provided 2
details about their
flag. Does not
explained why they
made it looks that way
and what it stands
form.
(Verbally, Writing, or
Illustrating)
1
Student states how they
would use flags, if they
were part of the Civil
War but does not use
information from the
text or personal
knowledge/experience
to support or explain.
(Verbally, Writing, or
Illustrating)
1
Student failed to clearly
state what their flag
would look like and
does not provide details
about their flag.
(Verbally, Writing, or
Illustrating)
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LITERACY PROJECT
Note Taking
Juba, S. (2011). The flag keeper. [Kindle DX version] Retrieved from Amazon.com
SS 1DK - Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.5
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
Student Directions: While reading the book The Flag Keeper, write down any new words or
words you dont know. Then, draw pictures to summarize what happened in the story. Put
them in order.
What happened?
New Words
1st
Halyard
2nd
Etiquette
Promotion
Halo
3rd
4th
Guardian
Vexillologist
I would use this method of taking notes during and after reading independently and
as a group. This form allows students to keep track of words they do not know and
bring them up in group discussion. It also allows them to document the story how
they imagine it, which gives the teacher prospective on their understanding of the
text.
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LITERACY PROJECT
Graphic Organizer
King, E. (1991, June 4). Students form giant American flag. The Baltimore Sun.
Retrieved from http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-06-04/news/1991155171_1_fortmchenry-american-flag-students
SS 1DK - Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.2 - With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key
details.
Directions: Retail the story by filling in the boxes with the beginning, middle, and
end. In each box draw a picture and write at least one word.
Beginning
Middle
End
3,000 Students
American Flag
LITERACY PROJECT
15
I would use this graphic organizer during the reading of the magazine article about the students
from Maryland. Students will use this organizer to retail the story using key details from the text.
Students will also practice the reading and writing strategy of summarizing the text. I chose this
graphic organizer because it is a simple way sort the main parts of the story and provide detail
from the text.
16
LITERACY PROJECT
Shared Reading
Text:
Lewis, W. (2002). F is for flag. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.
F is For Flag is a picture book who
GLEs and CCSSs:
SS 1DK - Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.4
Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which
they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).
Text
F is for Flag
Teacher commentary
Strategies
during think aloud
practiced/modeled
As I look at the title of the
Predicting
page I notice both the F and Questioning
the F in flag are both red.
Why do you think that is?
On the cover I see the
American flag and children of
different races.
Questioning
Predicting
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LITERACY PROJECT
it look like?
What places have you seen
the American Flag?
Prior Knowledge
Questioning
Predicting
Predicting
Predicting
Prior knowledge
Questioning
Making text-to-self
Prior Knowledge
Questioning
Making text-to-self
Prior Knowledge
Comparing
Making text-to-self
Making text-to-self
LITERACY PROJECT
18
I would use this text to model shared reading strategies and how to break down text. This allows
students to predict, use prior knowledge, relate the text back to themselves, compare and
contrast, and build questioning skills. Students will be able to observe strategies they can use in
their own independent reading.
19
LITERACY PROJECT
Performance Task
Grade Kindergarten
Content Area: Social Studies
Lewis, W. (2002). F is for flag. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.
Durr, J. (2014). 30 American flag crafts. Kids activities Blog. Retrieved from
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53337/30-american-flag-crafts
SS1.K.D Identify the flag as a symbol of our nation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.5
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
American Flag
1. Task Overview
20 minutes for classroom activity, 20 for performance task = 40 total minutes
Students will engage in a whole class discussion about the American Flag after reading F is for
Flag by taking part in shared reading. After whole class discussion and shared reading students
will be broken up into small groups, where they will come up with a group name and create a
group flag. They will then present their flag to the rest of the class.
2. Classroom Activity
Evidence Statement:
Students will engage in a whole class discussion about the American Flag by taking part in
shared reading. (20mins)
Students will create their own group flag and present it to their peer. (20mins)
LITERACY PROJECT
20
As a class the teacher will read F is for Flag and engage students in shared reading. Students will
make predications, use prior knowledge, and answer questions throughout the shared reading.
Students will then be broken into small groups. As a group they will create a name and a flag that
represents their group. After they create their flag and write their group name on the back they
will present it to the whole class.
3. Student Tasks 1 and 2
As a class students will take part in a shared reading while the teacher reads F is for Flag.
After the shared reading students will then use the knowledge they gained about the
American flag being a symbol to create their own group flag. They will then share their
groups flag with their classmates.
Part 1
20 minutes
Students will listen while the teacher demonstrates how to do shared reading. They will then join
in the shared reading as the teacher finishes the book.
Part 2
20 minutes
Students will be divided into groups. In their group they will create group name and flag. After
creating the flag they will share it with their classmates.
Scorable products
Students will not be graded for the shared reading, they will only be graded for Part 2. Students
will be graded on completion of flag, communication of their flag to their peers, using materials
properly, and social skills within their group.
LITERACY PROJECT
21
22
LITERACY PROJECT
Steps to Follow
As we read the text will ask questions, predict what will happen next, compare,
and relate to yourself. At first I will show you how it will sound like then I will
have you do it together as a class.
Directions for Beginning
Now that you have seen how a shared reading works I want you to try it. Raise
your hand then has a question, predict what will happen next, compare, or relate it
to you.
Resources/documents: F is for Flag
Text
F is for Flag
Teacher commentary
Strategies
during think aloud
practiced/modeled
As I look at the title of the
Predicting
page I notice both the F and Questioning
the F in flag are both red.
Why do you think that is?
On the cover I see the
American flag and children of
different races.
Questioning
Predicting
Making text-to-self
connections
Prior Knowledge
Questioning
Predicting
23
LITERACY PROJECT
At school
and on ships at sea.
We see our flag- in happy
times and sad times.
Our flag is so many places
because we are proud of it.
It stands for our country, the
United States of America.
And it stands for us, the
people who live here.
Who are we?
We are all kinds of peopledifferent in many ways.
But we live and work and
play together.
We are like one great big
family.
One country, one family, one
flag for everybody.
We are proud of our flag. We
have songs about it.
We have nicknames for it.
We have the Pledge of
Allegiance, too.
The Pledge is a promise- a
promise to be a good
American, a promise to be a
good friend to our flag. As we
make this promise, we hold
our hand over our heart. This
shows that we mean what we
say.
F is for flag. Our flag.
F is for family and friends
and freedom, tooAnd everything special that
our flag stands for.
F is also for Flag Day June
14 our flags birthday. On
Flag Day, big parades march
down streets all over
America.
Part 2
Making text-to-self
Prior Knowledge
Predicting
Predicting
Prior knowledge
Questioning
Questioning
Making text-to-self
Prior Knowledge
Comparing
Making text-to-self
Making text-to-self
24
LITERACY PROJECT
Explanation
Now, that you guys know about the American flag and how it is a symbol to the
U.S. I am going to break you up into groups to create your own flag, for your
group.
Your Assignment
You will come up with a group name and write it on the back of your flag. Then
use all the materials on your tables to create a flag for your group. Once every one
have finished you will share it with your classmates.
Your flag can have anything on it that represents your group. (Examples favorite
colors, animals, etc.)
4. Tasks Specifications and Scoring Rubrics
0 points
2 points
Unable or
Attempts Flag
Completion
unwilling to
but needs teacher
attempt the
help to stay on
task.
task.
Responds to
teacher prompts
about sharing the
meaning of their
flag.
Needed teacher
intervention to
use materials
properly.
Materials were
on the floor. Did
not clean up
properly.
Needs reminders
to work well
with
4 points
Attempts with
no help from
teacher but
unable to
finish with the
given time.
Begins to
explain their
flag but with
limited
language.
6 points
Completes Flag with
given time and with
no help from teacher.
May need a
reminder to
use materials
properly and
to clean up.
Uses materials
properly. Helps clean
up area.
Generally
worked well
with group.
25
LITERACY PROJECT
intervention. Is
loud, off-task,
out of seat,
running
around,
fighting,
bothering
others, and
refusing to
participate.
group/partner, to
share, and to
take turns. Needs
reminders to use
indoor voice, to
stay on task, to
participate.
May have
needed a
reminder to
help, share,
take turns, or
use inside
voice. May
need reminder
to stay on task.
Generally
participates.
"inside voice".
Remained on task.
Shared and took turns.
Participated.