Flags - Art of Values, Culture & Beliefs

5th grade designed these flags after investigating the universally traditional art of flag design. Students discussed how national flags showcase various cultural values and beliefs, like religion, nature, wealth, and militarism. 5th grade students chose from the following scenarios to inspire their flag designs:

1- Design the new USA or Colorado flag.

2- You are leader of your own country. Design the flag.

3- Design a team or event flag.

This lesson was originally written to teach Colorado State 2020 Visual Arts Standards and Outcomes to the 5th Grade:

Standard 4: Relate and Connect to Transfer: Grade Level Expectation: 1. Using interdisciplinary knowledge, investigate and interpret how diverse communities address issues relevant to their place and times. Evidence Outcome: a. Discuss how art reflects diverse social values and beliefs.

This lesson can also be used to teach the following standards to younger grade levels:

Fourth Grade, Standard 4. Relate and Connect to Transfer. Grade Level Expectation: 1. Investigate and discuss how diverse communities address issues relevant to their culture, place and times. Evidence Outcome: a. Identify and describe how visual art and design communicate meaning between any subject, discipline, event or issue.

Third Grade, Standard 4. Relate and Connect to Transfer, Grade Level Expectation: 1. Recognize how works of visual art and design communicate meaning both within a community and between diverse cultures. Evidence Outcome: b. Connect the meaning of personal works of art to historical, cultural or community events.

Second Grade, Standard 4. Relate and Connect to Transfer, Grade Level Expectation: 1. Observe and discuss how visual art and design are evident in the everyday life of communities. Evidence Outcomes: b. Investigate public art and its role within the community. c. Investigate the role of art and design in our communities and world.

First Grade, Standard 1. Observe and Learn to Comprehend, Grade Level Expectation: 1. Investigate how visual art and design tell the many stories of people, places or things. Evidence Outcome: c. Demonstrate an understanding that different communities and cultures share their own stories.

Kindergarten, Standard 3. Invent and Discover to Create, Grade Level Expectation: 1. Investigate the properties of materials to support the planning and making of works of art. Evidence Outcome: b. Describe intention for creating artwork.