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Unit  World Olympics, p. 185
Lesson Name  Name Tags, Patches, and Flags for Our Teams
Grade Band 

Elementary (Grades 3-5)

Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Required Materials

  • Have a picture of the American flag if one is not already displayed in the classroom.

  • Have a large picture of the flag of the country the class/group is representing in the Olympics.

  • Prepare a piece of chart paper with an explanation of the colors and/or symbols on the flag of the country the group is representing. Be sure to include the meaning of the colors and/or symbols.

  • Bring fabric and/or felt squares. (The teacher will need to provide colors found on the flag of the country the group is representing in the Olympics.)

  • Have markers, paint, crayons, fabric glue and regular glue, construction paper, card stock and/or poster board, scissors and other art supplies based on the age and grade level of the students.

  • Optional: Bring plastic name tags holders on lanyards with inserts that can be inscribed with student names and decorated.

  • Have a large plastic container with a top to seal it. It should be big enough to store all the patches, name tags and flags to be used at the Opening and/or Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics so that nothing is lost or damaged.
Standards / Competencies 

CASEL Core Competencies

  • Self-Awareness

  • Self-Management

  • Social Awareness

  • Relationship Skills

Common Core ELA-Literacy Standards

  • Listening and Speaking

NCSS Social Studies Themes

  • Individual Development and Identity 

  • Culture

  • Civic Ideals and Practices
Recommended Time  1 hour
Essential Question  What materials can we create to represent
our teams at our Olympic games?
Learning Objectives 

  • Explain what the stars, stripes, and colors of the American flag represent

  • Explain what the colors and/or symbols of the flag mean for the country the group is representing in the Olympics

  • Create patches, flags, and name tags to represent their countries at the Olympics
Activating Prior Knowledge 

Set up three stations around the room: one for patch making, one for name tags and a third for flag making.

  • The patch station should have small fabric or felt squares approximately 5×5 inches, markers and glue, scissors and other art supplies with which to decorate the patches. The design of the patches is the five Olympic rings.

  • The name tag station should have large squares of fabric or felt, approximately 8×8 inches. This station should also have markers and glue and other art supplies with which to decorate. The name tag should include the name of the country as well.

  • The flag station should have construction paper (or fabric to make fabric flags), markers (including fabric markers), crayons and other materials with which to create the flag of the country they are studying. Have a picture of the chosen country’s flag for students to refer to. Make sure to have paper in the colors of the country’s flag.

Note: If your school has an art teacher, this is an opportunity
to co-teach and/or to elicit their support and expertise in preparing
for this lesson.

Tell the class: An important part of representing a country at
the Olympic Games is wearing name tags and patches that represent the
country and waving the flag of the country. Post a picture of the American flag.

Ask for student volunteers to explain what the stripes, the stars and the colors of the American flag represent.

If students do not know all or parts of what the flag represents, tell them:

  • the stripes on the flag represent the original 13
    Colonies

  • the stars represent the 50 states of the Union

  • the colors of the flag are symbolic as well

    • red symbolizes hardiness and valor

    • white symbolizes purity and innocence

    • blue represents vigilance, perseverance and
      justice.

Be ready to review with students what new vocabulary words mean. Ask students why they think the founders of the country thought these ideas were important to symbolize on the flag.
Core Instruction 

Post a picture of the flag of the country they are representing. (Note to the teacher: Be sure to have the information on the flag of the country the group is representing printed on chart paper that can be posted.)

Ask by a show of hands how many students can explain what the colors and/or symbols of the flag represent based on their research about the country.

Ask for volunteer students to explain what the colors and symbols mean.

Share any missing information with students as needed, based on their responses so that all students know what the colors and symbols represent.

Tell students that they are going to make a patch, a name tag and a flag so that every student in the class has one. On the opening and/or closing day of the Olympics, the group will wear the patches and name tags and wave the flags.

Divide the class into three groups – A, B, and C. Tell Group A to go to the patch station, Group B to the name tag station and Group C to go to the flag station.

Have students rotate through each station so that each child has had the opportunity to make all three items.

When the groups have finished their work, store all of the materials for the Opening and/or Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
Wrap-up  Ask students: Why do you think it is important to athletes to
wear their colors when they compete? Why is it important to
you?