Flag Day Lesson Plans for Elementary Students

Posted In: Blog Posts | May 23, 2024

Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777. Today, Americans celebrate this holiday by displaying flags at their homes or businesses, and some cities even hold parades or other patriotic events. We hope you will mark the day by using one of our Flag Day lesson plans in your elementary classroom or with your student group.

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. One of the most recognized photos of World War II, this image depicts Marines from the 5th Marine Division raising the American Flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima, a battle during which 27 individuals earned the Medal of Honor.

Flag Day Lesson Plans for Your Elementary Classroom

F is For Flag – Did you know that one of the earliest flags carried by American soldiers had a pine tree in the corner? Or that the flag once had 15 stripes instead of 13? This lesson will teach Kindergarten students about the history of the American flag and different ways we can show pride for our country.

Flag Etiquette – This lesson asks 3rd grade students to discuss the poem “Red, White, and Blue” by Ann McCune and analyze the vocabulary of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students will also spend time learning about the importance of flag etiquette, so stand up straight, take your hat off, and get ready to learn about our flag!

Learning About our Nation’s Symbols – What symbols make you feel patriotic? This lesson helps 4th grade students explore some of our most beloved national symbols, including the Statue of Liberty, the Bald Eagle, and the American flag. Share this elementary lesson to help students dive deeper into the meaning of patriotism.

American Flag Book Suggestions

Spend time on Flag Day reading one of these great children’s books focused on the American Flag.

F is for Flag – Wendy Cheyette Lewison

The Pledge of Allegiance – Norman Pearl

O’ Say, Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, and Important Words – Sheila Keenan

Our American Flag (American Symbols) – Mary Firestone

Character Club Video

Check out our Character Club video on Patriotism to hear several Medal of Honor Recipients talk about what the flag means to them.

The Flag and the Medal of Honor

If you have shared the lessons with your students and want to know more about the connection between the flag and the Medal of Honor, check out these stories. Over the years, the Medal of Honor has been awarded to many flag bearers, especially during the Civil War. You can discover their heroic actions in some of our past blogs:

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About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor (the United States’ highest award for military valor in action) and its Recipients, inspiring Americans to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients as they connect with communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Society’s membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor.

The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Citizen Honors Awards, and The Medal of Honor Museum. As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, The Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites.

The Society’s programs and operations are fully funded by generous donors.

Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org.