Travel Kit:
Pennsylvania flag coloring sheet, colored pencils, markers
Your Destination:
Learn about the symbolism behind the Pennsylvania state flag, then design your own! One of the most recognizable symbols of any state is its flag. The flag depicts the state coat of arms on a blue background. This initial design was authorized in 1799 but wasn’t enacted into law and standardized until 1907. The coat of arms, designed by Caleb Lownes and adjusted by the Legislature, depicts a boat to stand for commerce, a plow to stand for rich natural resources, and wheat to stand for abundance. The banner on the bottom says “Virtue, Liberty, and Independance”.
On the Path:
Step one: Color in your own PA flag coloring sheet.
Step two:
Turn to a friend and discuss the following: What do you think makes Pennsylvania unique? How do you think it has changed since the first flag was designed in 1799? What about Pennsylvania, if anything, do you think is the same?
Step three:
Next, using what you discussed, brainstorm what you think a new flag could look like. On a blank sheet of paper, draw your new flag using what you think best symbolizes Pennsylvania today. If you were to change the state motto, what three words do you think capture the spirit of Pennsylvania?
Step four:
Once decorated, share your new flags with a partner or the class. Explain the new symbols and motto you chose and why you chose them.
Group Tour:
Hang your flag up on the wall. Take time to wander about the room and appreciate each student’s flag up close. What do you like about the other flags, what about them is similar to your own, and what is different?
Extend the Journey:
Research other flags. Look at the flags of other states or countries. Pick your favorite and make a small poster explaining the flag’s different components: its colors, seals/coat of arms, and mottos where applicable.
Vocabulary: Coat of Arms, motto, symbolize
Resources and Visual Aids: Flag Handout