Etta
Moten Barnett
Description
Etta Moten Barnett and her
husband, Claude, were US representatives to the independence celebrations
of several countries in Africa. As these new nations emerged, they
raised flags to celebrate their own heritage. In this activity, students
study national flags and what they symbolize. This activity will
take two or more class periods.
Objectives
Students should:
-
define and give examples of
symbolism
-
identify the national flags
of different countries
-
identify what different colors
symbolize
-
identify the symbolism in each
of these national flags
-
create their own flag that includes
symbols of themselves
Procedure
-
Ask students to define symbolism.
Students may use prior knowledge, classroom or online dictionaries, and/or
text books.
-
Ask students to give examples
of symbols in the classroom.
-
After students have identified
the national flag as a symbol (this may take some nudging), ask them what
it symbolizes (The United States, freedom, democracy, and so forth).
-
Explain that each component
of the flag symbolizes something. Discuss the components and what
they symbolize. You may have students use Colors
of the Flag for help.
-
Ask students which countries
Etta Moten Barnett visited in Africa. Students may have to refer
to her bibliography. A link is provided on the Student Activity Page.
-
Direct students to color the
flags and write what each color and image symbolize on the back.
-
At this point, students have
seen the colors red, white, blue, yellow, green, black and orange used
to symbolize different things through the flags of The United States, Ghana,
Nigeria, and Zambia. Discuss the use of color symbolism with the
students. Have students complete the worksheet.
Directions for the worksheet are on the Student Activity Page.
-
Students share their findings.
-
Using The
Flags of the World and Easy
Flag Identifier websites, have students locate flags with images.
What do the images symbolize? Are there any flags that have different
shapes? What do these shapes symbolize?
-
Each student creates a flag
that symbolizes himself/herself. Things to consider are: shapes,
colors, images & design. This may be done with paper and art
supplies, a computer paint program or MS PowerPoint. An example,
created with PowerPoint, is given.
Student
Activity Page (go
to the page)
