{"id":2028,"date":"2009-11-16T14:03:51","date_gmt":"2009-11-16T19:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2028"},"modified":"2009-11-16T14:03:51","modified_gmt":"2009-11-16T19:03:51","slug":"teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-i-pledge-allegiance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2009\/11\/16\/teaching-civics-with-childrens-literature-i-pledge-allegiance\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: I Pledge Allegiance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\"pledge-book.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction and Summary<\/strong>
\nI Pledge Allegiance<\/a>, written by Bill Martin Jr. and Micahel Sampson, illustrated by Chris Raschka, is a great tool to use when teaching students about civics.\u00a0 The book does a great job explaining the pledge to students by defining terms that are likely unfamiliar to them.\u00a0 For instance, the authors explain that, “A pledge is a promise” and “A flag is a symbol that stands for a place, a thing or an idea.”<\/p>\n

The book also has many sidebars with additional facts about the US, such as “Each state has its own name, its own song, bird and flower, its own favorite food, some of its own laws, and even its own flag!” The authors also do a nice job explaining the US flag, and what each color symbolizes, as well as explaining the proper body language to put forth when saying the pledge.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections
\n<\/strong>This book is a great tool to use when teaching VA SOL K.9, “The student will recognize the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance and know that the president is the leader of the United States.”\u00a0 It could also be employed at the first grade level to satisfy VA SOL 1.11 B, “The student will recognize the symbols and traditional practices that honor and foster patriotism in the United States by demonstrating respect for the American flag by learning about the Pledge of Allegiance.”<\/p>\n

Additional Resources
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