Your local library and many websites provide resources for researching basic information about early flag designs. Students can color a blackline of each of the colonial flags or design them using construction paper, scissors and glue. Stack them in order from earliest to latest and staple the pages along the top edge or punch holes and bind with yarn, string or metal rings. Write a one- to two-page summary describing which individual, regiment or colony used the design, when it was used, at which battles it flew, and the symbolic significance of each flag's colors and emblems. Ask a helper to hold your flip flag and turn the pages as you give an oral presentation on colonial flag history using your summary as a guide.
If you prefer tech-based projects, create a digital slideshow timeline of the colonial flags. Each page should contain one flag picture, presented in chronological order, and a paragraph on the significance of this particular design. Insert the paragraph into a text box on the page; embed it as oral narration or both. Save your project to a disk or flash drive and play it for your class or another audience.
Punch holes along the outer edge of a paper plate or circular piece of cardboard. Find the center point of the circle and poke a pencil or small screwdriver through. Double over a piece of string and insert the ends into the center hole. Knot the end several times on the bottom edge so that it will not pull through the hole. Secure with tape if necessary. Color two miniature copies of each colonial flag design. Glue them back to back and sandwich a long string or yarn between them. Thread the other end through the holes in the disk and tie off. Vary the length of each string to add visual interest and tape red, white and blue streamers dangling from the underside of the disk. This can serve as a visual for a speech as well or provide a colorful and educational decoration for a patriotic holiday.
After learning so much about how the American flag came to be, honor the flag by putting on a flag ceremony at your school, Scout group, church or other community organization. Present any of these flag history projects as a prelude to set a tone of solemn respect for the flag appropriate to the occasion. Sharing what you have learned passes the knowledge of history and value of appreciation for the heritage represented by our flag.