Patriotism is a growing concern in our nation today. One of the ways to teach children patriotism is to have them be in an informative play or program. Many schools and teachers are looking for programs to fit this description that are easy to put on and take very little practice time to present. With all the teaching and testing that teachers are required to do for the “No Child Left Behind” idea has left them with little time to do the creative programs for their students.
These programs also need to teach and educate students in a creative way about their country. The programs or plays show them just what a priceless gift freedom is for them to celebrate and embrace. Teaching them about respect for their flag, country and other patriotic symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial is important for patriotism to take root in young children.
Some children learn about flag etiquette, learn what to do when taps is played. What should you do if you are wearing a hat? Some students have learned or know what the Statue of Liberty and other symbols are, but they have never heard or learned the story behind the symbol. We need to take time to teach the story of how these symbols of history came about and why they are so important to our country.
The first time that I had a man come into our school and play taps even the adults did not know what the correct protocol was. Many sat not knowing that they should stand and so even the adults were taught when the first person stood, which is the correct thing to do.
The flag being used in assemblies help the students know that they need to stand when a color guard walks by. They need to know where the flag should be placed in a room. They need to know that when they drive by a business that is flying 3 flags and have the middle flag being Canadian instead of the two American flags on the end that that is incorrect display. Students need to know how to raise a flag, fold a flag and that a flag can been cleaned. One of my Social Studies tests was that all my students had to fold the flag correctly. Yes, all! The girls thought only boys could do it because they were scouts.
Programs can teach about the symbols. Programs using the Bill of Rights help students remember what those rights are. Programs using all the wonderful music that has been written about our country gives them feelings of pride. Programs honoring those who have served our country are very helpful to teach the students that their freedom was paid for with sweat and blood. Having some of those service men come and talk to the students really help them see that there are real people that fight not just pictures on a game screen.
I have found that when my students participated in a program they learned a lot more than when it was just done in the classroom. The year we did all of the Amendments in the Bill of Rights in September they remembered those rights clearly until we studied them in January and February in our text book. The students need to feel that patriotic feeling when they sing a patriotic song because usually the feeling does not come when you read it in a text book.
Related Articles
Patriotism in the Classroom
By: caroline mackay | 25/07/2007 | Education
Patriotism is a growing concern in our nation today. One of the ways to teach children patriotism is to have them be in an informative play or program. Many schools and teachers are looking for programs to fit this description that are easy to put on and take very little practice time to present.
Struggling Readers: The Struggles
By: Peter Waycik | 11/05/2006 | Advertising
Struggling readers have a number of barriers to their success that can be overcome if they are properly understood and addressed.
Rhyming and School Plays/programs
By: caroline mackay | 08/07/2007 | K-12 Education
Rhyming makes learning easier for everyone. If you want a child to learn something quickly there are two things that will make the process much easier and less painful for everyone involved. One is to put it to music and the other is to make it into a rhyme.
Kids Ideas are Winners
By: caroline mackay | 10/07/2007 | Education
One of the best ideas for making a fun school program is to listen to the kids. Children have very active imaginations and they are not shy about expressing their ideas. If you are open to their ideas you can give your programs zip and humor. It also gives the children ownership to the program. Here are a few ideas that the students have come up with in some of my programs.
Any One Can Teach
By: caroline mackay | 10/07/2007 | Education
How many of you have heard this? Well, I’m here to tell you that this is false. Everyone can teach, but not in a classroom. Some yea5rs ago the newspaper reported of a very successful lawyer who had always dreamed of being a teacher. He had made a lot of money as a lawyer and decided to follow his dream and become a teacher. He became a teacher and because he was a very successful lawyer he felt that he could be a very successful teacher. He started in September and lasted until Christmas
Showcase Pe Skills Instead of Music Skills
By: caroline mackay | 01/08/2007 | K-12 Education
Students in Elementary Schools love to share their talents and to basically ‘show off’. Teachers have found a multitude of ways to let them share their talents and knowledge through Science Fairs, History Days, Plays, Musicals, Programs, Spelling Bees and many other things, but rarely have they done anything with PE Skills other than to play sports.
Find your Language Exchange Partner
By: Radislav Masata | 25/02/2007 | Languages
A few years of studies of a foreign language have passed and you still think you wouldn’t be able to even ask for a bus ticket with confidence? When you see some confused foreigners speaking in your desired language, you rather pretend you are not there at all, because they could ask you for the way? If that is the case, then it’s time to say enough theory, it’s time the language of your choice use in practice.
Ways to Get Shy Students to Participate in Programs
By: caroline mackay | 20/08/2007 | K-12 Education
Some times getting a shy student to participate is very difficult. You can beg or demand, but to those students it will not be a fun experience and they may start to not like you for making them do it. School programs should be fun and memorable experiences for those that participate. They should be a time to shine and display talents. For a shy student it is even more important that they participate and feel like they are part of the program.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Childrens ministrey
By: charlee tabler | 25-08-2008
I'm looking for programs that our church can do with age groups 3-11 years old.
I am a 65 yr old male and about 6 weeks ago a cat ...
By: Bob | 25-08-2008
I am a 65 yr old male and about 6 weeks ago a cat bit me to the bone on my upper thumb, I went to an urgent care ctr and they gave me a tetnus shot and a presciption for augmentin which I took as directed but after 5 days my hand kept swelling up bigger and bigger so I went to the ER and was admitted. Was put on IV augmentin for 2 days,swelling went down was dismissed.Since then til now I have not been able to make a fist and fingerjoints are swelled and hurt,blood vessels on back of hand are very large and feel pain in other places ,shoulder on same side elbow and both knees ankles and toes on both feet. I have never had arthritis nor joint pain until after the cat bite. I am afraid if it is'nt treated properly it will permanently damage all my joints. I think it might be septic arthritis but have not been told this.Family Dr did blood test for RA and was negative. What kind of specialist doctor should I see about this and I wonder if antibiotics over a period of time will clear this up?Thanks for any helpful information, Bob near Raleigh,NC
Cat bite caused septic arthritis
By: Bob | 25-08-2008
Is there a doctor in the raleigh areathat can treat septic arthritis as a result of a cat bite?
Need online teaching opportunity
By: labroi | 24-08-2008
I am very interested in online teaching opportunities in infromation systems, project management or business.
I would like to get a mug with FREEDMON IS NOT ...
By: Nancy | 24-08-2008
I would like to get a mug with FREEDMON IS NOT FREE . my husband name was added to mug. It was a gift from American Veterans Disadled .
Is the UCS work at home program legitimate?
By: Buster | 24-08-2008
Is the UCS work at home program legitimate?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Education Articles
Movado: Sports Edition Watches - Sports Yet Luxury Watches
By: Joseph Levy | 06/09/2008
Since 1981, the highly popular Sports Edition collection has played an important part in fashion, business and in the lives of the professional athletes. Movado maintains a very strong connection with the sports world.
The Various Types Of Student Loans
By: Paul Hata | 05/09/2008
There are three types of loans that are commonly found for college students. They include federal student loans, federal plus loans, and private student loans. Each type of loan has advantages and disadvantages that are unique to that particular loan.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Associate And Bachelor Degrees
By: Paul Hata | 05/09/2008
Regardless of whether a two-year degree or a four-year degree is in your personal best interest at the moment neither are a waste of time or effort. I hope that you will eventually seek a four-year degree, as this will give you a competitive edge in business, however, even the smallest improvement in your education level can mean big changes over the course of your lifetime.
The Benefits Of Community Colleges
By: Paul Hata | 05/09/2008
Add to that the fact that most community colleges offer very flexible class scheduling and even some courses online and you will find that there are many reasons to consider community college that go well beyond mere budgeting requirements.
Why Should You Get A College Degree
By: Paul Hata | 05/09/2008
There is no wrong reason to get an education. Even if you are applying for a job that won't use your specific degree, you might find that having a degree at all gives you a boost over other applicants for the same position.
How To Be Eligible For Scholarship
By: Paul Hata | 05/09/2008
If you're planning to go to college with a scholarship, you must familiarize yourself with the different requirements, how to go about your scholarship application, avoid scholarship scams, get a good help with scholarship essays, and see featured scholarship programs especially on the net.
Continuing Nursing Competency
By: ROBYN KNAPP | 05/09/2008
For those student nurses who are about to graduate, their main priority is to pass the NCLEX-RN examination. The practice of nursing is regulated according to licensing authorities in each state jurisdiction.
Each jurisdiction must ensure that each nurse has the minimum competency to practice nursing in their state. In order...
Nursing Entrance Test, Test Anxiety and Stress
By: ROBYN KNAPP | 05/09/2008
What is the Nursing Entrance Test? The test evaluates areas that are essential for academic success including basic math skills up to beginning algebra and reading comprehension. The Nursing Entrance Test must be passed with a score that is dictated by the community college or university. Some nursing schools require...
More from caroline mackay
Why Substitute Teach
By: caroline mackay | 29/03/2008 | K-12 Education
Substitute teaching can be very rewarding. There are different reasons that people choose to substitute teach. Some look at it as just a job and they can make some what they view as, easy work, until they have done it for a day or two, then their opinions change. Substituting is anything but easy.
Try Outs for Elementary School Plays and Programs
By: caroline mackay | 29/03/2008 | K-12 Education
So you want to have an elementary school play, but how do you choose who gets each part. Since elementary students are quite a bit different from middle and high school students here are some ideas that you might find helpful in choosing parts.
Interesting Bald Eagle Facts
By: caroline mackay | 29/03/2008 | K-12 Education
The American Bald Eagle is the United States National Symbol. It was chosen as our national symbol in 1782 and was chosen over the Golden Eagle because it lives on on the North American Continent while the Golden Eagle also lives in Europe. When born it is truly an ugly duckling, but in four to five years it will turn into a beautiful bird that inspires you when you view it in flight. If you study about this beautiful bird you can learn some very interesting facts.
Elementary Substitute Teaching Tips
By: caroline mackay | 29/03/2008 | K-12 Education
Most teachers hate getting a substitute teacher for their class because it is so much work to get prepared for the substitute. Since many districts have gone to the automated sub finder system the teacher is also never sure who will be their substitute and that worries them because the wrong substitute teacher can make more work for the regular teacher. So if you are going to substitute then you need to go in prepared to help the teacher and maintain control of the class.
Credit Card Problems for First Time Site Owners
By: caroline mackay | 29/03/2008 | Business
Five hours! That is how long it took me to figure out what to do with an order that I felt came from a stolen credit card. Being new to the internet business I had had very few problems with credit cards. Besides, on the site where I was selling the most items, those items cost less than $30. At thirty dollars the fraud would not have been real costly to me.
Simple Red Ribbon Week Ideas
By: caroline mackay | 28/03/2008 | K-12 Education
One year everyone at our school was tired of doing Red Ribbon week. They felt that they were being asked to do too many things so they sort of boycotted the whole idea. My class really wanted to do something and I did also, but I didn’t want to have to do too much because time was short. We came up with an idea that the students could help with and would take very little time.
Two Easy Substitute Games for Elementary Substitutes
By: caroline mackay | 28/03/2008 | K-12 Education
Four Corners is a simple game that students of all elementary school ages love to play. This is fun to play with the lights out if there is a window letting a little light into the
room. Give each corner a number one to four. One person is it. Th
Animal Offsprings
By: caroline mackay | 14/01/2008 | K-12 Education
“Grandma what is baby cat called?” This is a question that often comes up and it is easy when it is a baby cat, but what about those other animals. Some of them can make you head for the dictionary or encyclopedia to try to find the answer.
Education 
