The days leading up to Flag Day are a great time to explore the meaning of this holiday. This post shares popular Flag Day books for kids that elementary teachers often use as read alouds this time of year. All of the picture books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these Flag Day books for kids!
1. Our Flag Was Still There by Jessie Hartland
Our Flag Was Still There by Jessie Hartland is a nonfiction book about the American flag on display at the Smithsonian. During the war in 1813, Major George Armistead wanted to send a message to the British that the land belonged to America. He decided to have a very large American flag made so it could be seen from far away.
Mary Pickersgill was an expert in the flag making business. She and her team of seamstresses took on the challenge of making the giant flag. Six weeks later, the flag was finished, but the British retreated for winter. The flag was hung over the fort in Baltimore anyway, and a year later the British returned. A long battle between American and British ships began and lasted 25 hours!
When the battle was over and America won, the flag was still standing over the fort. An American poet and lawyer, Francis Scott Key, noticed the flag from the British ship where he was being held. He was inspired to write a poem, which eventually became the national anthem.
The flag was in storage for many years before it was donated to the Smithsonian. During this time, it had become worn out and needed to be restored. Eventually, a special exhibit was created to protect the flag and that is where it still is today.
Check out these Our Flag Was Still There Lessons and Activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
2. 30,000 Stitches by Amanda Davis
30,000 Stitches by Amanda Davis tells the story of the American Flag flown after September 11, 2001. The flag was hung by construction workers after the Twin Towers fell and it stayed there until it became faded and tattered. Eventually the flag was taken down and stored away.
Years later, the flag was brought to Kansas by a group of volunteers from New York. A tornado had struck the town and volunteers were working to rebuild the town. The flag was going to be part of a memorial park. However, when residents saw the damaged flag, they decided to repair it. They began fixing the flag with pieces of their own flags ruined in the storm. Eventually, a new plan was formed. The flag would travel around the country to be repaired by people from all 50 states.
The flag visited many historical places and events. Each time, volunteers added their own pieces to the flag. Ten years later, the restoration was complete the flag returned home to New York City.
Check out these 30,000 Stitches lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
Or Get All of the Activity Packets for 600+ Picture Books!
Starts with a Story is a collection of hundreds of book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Each book companion includes:
- reading comprehension questions with sample student responses
- 30 writing prompts targeting 10 different types of writing
- SEL lesson ideas based on character and events from each story
- printable student activities
- editable teaching slides with book-based clipart
- and more.
Learn how to get unlimited access to all 600+ book companion packets below!
Teachers Love these Other Flag Day Activities for Kids
We have lots of Flag Day activities you can use in your classroom. Check out the blog post Flag Day Activities for Kids to get more ideas and teaching resources!
One Last Thing Before You Go… Grab this Free Reading Resource!
If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It includes:
- seasonal read aloud books lists for teachers
- printable reading logs to track students’ reading
- monthly reading challenges to motivate students to read more
It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
In closing, we hope you found this list of Flag Day books helpful! If you are a member of Starts With a Story, you have access to all of these book companion activities. Lastly, you may also be interested in these summer books for kids if you love read alouds like us!
