Writing Wonders with Leslie: Pledge of Allegiance

When I first read, Ramona Quimby, I was confused as she was in the chapter where she recited the Pledge of Allegiance. She thought that when she said, indivisible, she was actually saying invisible! I remember that my teacher did not stop to discuss Ramona's misunderstanding so I marched home and asked my parents the meaning of The Pledge of Allegiance. My father laughed finding humor that he, born in England, and my mother, born in Canada, were to explain the United States Pledge of Allegiance to me rather than my teacher.

Consequently, when I became a teacher, I made certain that every year I would make certain that my students would have a clear understanding of words they recite every morning!

My students create a book of the Pledge. I divide it into five pages. On each page, students write what each line means in "kid friendly language". I also conduct a directed art lesson for each page. The lines are divided as follows:

1. I pledge allegiance to the flag

2. of the United States of America

3. and to the republic for which it stands

4. one nation under God, indivisible

5. with liberty and justice for all.

Prior to the "writing", I read a few books to my students. They are:

1. The Pledge of Allegiance Scholastic Inc. (Author), Scholastic

2. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE by Bill Martin Jr.; Michael Sampson; Chris Raschka

3. The Flag We Love Pam Munoz Ryan (Author), Ralph Masiello (Illustrator)

In addition to reading these books and explaining the meaning of each line, I explain what each color on the flag represents:

Red = valor and zeal

White = hope, purity, and cleanliness of life