Harness the power of art and the creativity of children by making a banner that promotes the ideas of gratitude, caring, and liberty in honor of our heroes.

Here’s what you’re doing:

Creating an inspirational and patriotic banner to uplift a community and honor those who have served.

Here’s what you need:

• Banner material: banner paper, canvas, bed sheets, or shower curtains
• Felt, or pieces of fabric
• Markers or fabric markers

Here’s how you do it!

1. Decide on a theme or message for the banner: hope, gratitude, togetherness.
2. Ask a nursing or veterans home, shelter, or low-income after school program if they’d like to display the banner or help make it.
3. Brainstorm images and words for the banner. Make a sketch for large banners.
4. Create banner.
5. Display banner in a public place.

Interesting fact:

Symbolism is a powerful way to communicate an idea. The American flag has 50 stars to symbolize the 50 states, and 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies. Blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship. Red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency. White denotes purity of actions. (www.cia.gov, 2011)

Reflection questions:

Why might our community need to be uplifted right now?

What thoughts or questions about your country or global community did you have when creating the banner?