Connect students directly to the concept in a personal way. Capture students' attention by initiating a group problem-solving activity before delivery of instruction. Begin with a situation that is familiar to students and builds on what they already know. Construct a learning experience that allows diverse and personal student responses. Facilitate the work of cooperative teams of students.
Students make symbols for a class flag.
Objective: To build respect for our flag and country.
Activity: Have the children sit in groups. Put the definition of the word "symbol" on the board. Symbol: Something used to represent something else, a picture, a color, etc. that stands for something. Ask students for examples. List can include Smokey the Bear, the red color of Santa's suit, McDonaldís Golden Arches. Then tell them that some symbols are special. What makes them special is that they help us to feel something in our hearts, a kind of special feeling. When that happens, the symbol stands for something much deeper and more important than the symbol itself. When we honor these symbols we show our loyalty, our feelings of caring, for what the symbol means. Conduct a brief discussion along these lines, then ask the children to get together and discuss what symbols they might use to make a class flag.
