A coeducational day school serving students JK-12

First Grade Builds Community with Flag Project

First Grade Builds Community with Flag Project

Latin first grade students started the year building their community. It was important to establish to ensure all feel safe and comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, asking for help and supporting one another. 

As students listened to some of their favorite songs, they got inspired. The song, “Wave your Flag” by K’Nann, in particular, sparked a lot of inspiration. Some may be familiar with this song as it is the anthem of the World Cup. As the first graders listened to the song, they thought it might be fun to create their own flags. 

As students began to explore their identities and community, they discovered that flags often represent groups of people who are related in some way. For example, city flags can represent folks who live in the same city. Team flags can represent fans of a particular team. State/country flags represent people who come from those places.

Each student then created their own flag to represent pieces of their identity. The process started with the exploration of identity, authenticity, symbols, and flags. A lot of time was spent considering the difference between things we like/love, and pieces of our identity. As an abstract concept, teachers worked with students in small groups to help them understand the differences. Students then filled out an identity bubble map and began the process of designing their flags. Each student received a planning sheet to select important colors, symbols and shapes they wanted to include in their flags. 

After each individual flag was created, the grade level came together as a community, to explore how they could create one class/community flag to represent all individuals in the group. This process worked on skills such as compromise, collaboration and communication. The students problem-solved and suggested ways to include everyone in the community. The outcome being one community flag to represent the Latin first grade communities. 

Take a look at the flags students made to reflect their voices and choices. 

Howard Stevenson Slated for a Return Visit
n/a

The Diversity Council is sponsoring Dr. Howard Stevenson, a nationally respected researcher and author of Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools, for a return visit to Latin, September 30 - Oct. 1.

Based on more than 20 years of experience in schools, Stevenson has developed strategies for helping children of all racial backgrounds build healthy racial identities as well as cope with racial stress. He is unique in his research work as a university professor because he has worked directly with children of all ages. He listens carefully to them and puts together therapeutic interventions based on their feedback.
During his visit Stevenson will conduct a Student Diversity Leadership workshop for upper schoolers, present a multicultural learning opportunity for faculty/staff, meet with our school counselors and work with our Parents of Students of Color (Wednesday, September 30, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., in the Middle/Upper School Library.) Please contact Eleannor Maajid for more information.

Explore Our News & Stories