Teach the importance of the American flag by allowing children to decorate and enjoy baked goods. After a basic lesson about flag history and symbolism, provide a small group of children with a rectangular sheet cake coated in white frosting. Provide the kids with red and blue candies to decorate the cake, emulating the appearance of the flag. Larger groups of children may be best served by decorating individual sugar cookies. Simply place a wooden craft stick behind or into a rectangular cookie before baking.
Provide children with empty paper towel roll centers to decorate into patriotic batons for an impromptu parade. Assist young children in wrapping the cardboard tube in a white paper and securing with a glue stick to create a base for decorations. Embellish the baton by wrapping in red or blue ribbon. Provide patriotic glitter and stickers for allow the children to add further pizzazz. Glue blue or red plastic grass to one end of the baton to create a festive finish.
Planning patriotic jewelry projects can allow the children to create thoughtful gifts for friends and family. Provide young children with plastic pony beads and elastic thread to create bracelets or necklaces of a desired pattern. Tape one end of the elastic to the table to prevent accidental bead spills and assist with tying the final products shut with a firm square knot. Older children can use basic macrame techniques to make patriotic-colored friendship bracelets from embroidery thread or colored hemp.
Facilitate a healthy snack for young students by providing ingredients for a parfait bar. Purchase bulk tubs of vanilla yogurt. Wash blueberries and strawberries thoroughly. Slice the strawberries lengthwise into quarters. Provide each child with a clear plastic cup. Allow the children to layer the yogurt and berries in the cups, creating a patriotic parfait. Children with dairy allergies can substitute soy yogurt or dairy-free whipped topping for the vanilla yogurt.