The American Flag

For Civics, we are going over the American flag. Knowing our American heritage plays an important role in our lives as we live day by day as an American. The flag is an important symbol to remind us that we are united no matter where we came from and who we are. We are on American soil. By being aware of what our forefathers had to go through to be where we are today, the flag serves as a reminder of hardiness and valor (red), purity and innocence (white), vigilance, perseverance, and justice (blue) of and for the American people. 

The American flag is treated with respect. The worksheet that was given as homework briefly spoke of one of those etiquettes: that the flag rises at sunrise, and recedes down the staff at sunset. The flag can be flown at night, however, as long as there’s some sort of light source pointing directly at the flag to illuminate at night. There will be more discussions on the etiquette of the USA flag as the week progresses.

 

 

February 19, 2014

Today was an in-depth lesson on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks and how equality, inclusion, and the Civil Rights Movement were important during their time and how it affects us today. A little experiment was done where the children were "assigned" to play with other children who they normally don't play with.  At the end, they loved it and wanted to do it again. They will write their experiences tomorrow in their journals.

The children addressed their own ideas on freedom, equality, and peace. It all equates to respect and acceptance.

The experiment was shown how Rosa Parks felt when she did something different . She sat in the front of a bus full of people where there was segregation. When the children played outside with their "assigned" friends, they didn't know what to do. I asked them, "How does it feel to be friends with someone new? Someone different?" to which they all replied, "This is so hard!" I went on to share that Rosa Parks thought the very same thing when she sat in front of the bus. I gave them five more minutes to play -- and they did with their respective assigned friends. It took awhile, but they eventually ended up running around and having fun.  At the end, I asked how did it feel, and they all said that they wanted to do it again.

The lesson was to teach respect and acceptance. No matter how different everyone is -- whether they speak a different language, or what country they're or their parents are from, or whether they like pink and not blue -- we accept each other's differences, and learn to respect those differences. Exclusion is not to be tolerated and learning how to include others whether in play or study/work, creates a good feeling about themselves and everyone around them.  The children also learned that because we live in a community where English is spoken, and to prevent misconceptions about how another spoken-language is perceived by another, the children are discouraged to use another language when at play (there has been exclusions as a result of this). However....the children can share their language with friends who wish to learn it.

I hope that today's lesson had an impact on the children's social well-being. It is after all Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream that everyone accepts one another with respect.

February 12, 2014

Update: February 12, 2014
A deep discussion on Abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, kept the students engaged and deep in thought about equality and freedom. Please discuss who this famous person is with your child. They'll come up with some amazing thoughts. Today's discussion has led us to continue tomorrow's lesson towards Abraham Lincoln (he worked with Frederick Douglass) and President's Day.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Click on the link, Frederick Douglass, and read over it with your child. You may print it out if you so choose. I will print out a copy of my own and will read important excerpts to the class. They will briefly explain to me who he was and what his contributions were to end slavery.

February 4, 2014 Harriet Tubman

Time permitting, tomorrow I will be starting on an in-depth lesson on African-American History Month (aka Black History Month). The first person I'll introduce is Harriet Tubman. Although it is a history subject, I am including her in my Civics unit because of its moral lesson behind it: equality and freedom. There will be a worksheet for them to read and take home. This is due next week Monday on February 10. In case your child forgets to take it home here is a cut/pasted copy of it:

 

Harriet Tubman helped free 300 slaves. This was during the time when America came close to abolishing slavery. Harriet, who was a very courageous woman and very strong-minded, made sure that she saved others from being mistreated by using an underground railway to free them to another state where there was no slavery. At around 1820 or 1821, Harriet Tubman was born into slavery – meaning that she was someone’s property and had no rights – in Maryland. Even as a child, she had to work long days and most time, into the night. They were expected to work hard and fast and keep their “masters” happy. Many times the masters would mistreat their slaves, and this angered Harriet.

Later as she grew older, and after marrying a freed slave, she felt she needed to do something to become free. She met a Quaker woman and she decided to help Harriet. She helped Harriet, mostly at night to hide from slave hunters. When she crossed the Pennsylvania border, Harriet became a free slave.

When she found a job in Pennsylvania, she saved up to help free slaves in the North between 1850-1860. She later worked as a train engineer and used the Underground Railroad to free the slaves from the North. It took her 19 trips to free 300 slaves. When the Civil War broke out, she served in the army and later freed 800 more slaves.

Harriet Tubman became a hero to all who was a slave and to those who were against slavery. She was one of the American people in history who will always be remembered for her courage, bravery, kindness, and love. Harriet Tubman was one person who began to help change the people’s views of slavery and freedom. She would be proud of the steps that have been taken to remind humankind that we were all created equally.

1.      Harriet Tubman helped free the  __________________________.

a.       slaves

b.      masters

c.       the army

2.      Harriet was born a free person. True or False

3.      Harriet took the _____________________ to help free 300 slaves.

a.       ship                                               c. car

b.      train                                              d. bus

4.      She joined the ________________________ and freed 800 more slaves.

a.       navy                                              c. marines

b.      airforce                                        d. army

5.      It was during the ________________________________________when slavery was close to being put to an end.

a.       night                                             c. Civil War

b.      Revolutionary War                     d. World War II

6.      Harriet was strong-minded and ____________________________. She was one of those who would change the people’s view on slavery and freedom.

a.       courageous                                  c. sad

b.      afraid                                            d. frustrated

7.      What does it mean when “…someone was born into slavery…”? Write your answer below.

 

February 4, 2014 Groundhog Day

Tomorrow, I will be reading and showing a clip on the famous groundhog, Punsxutawney Phil from Pennsylvania. The article above may be read to your child to give him/her a heads up on the groundhog and its brief history on how Groundhog Day came about. Oral questions will be asked to check for their understanding on Groundhog Day.