During our Guided Literacy Block at SJHS, students had the opportunity to express themselves through Americanism essays. Two of our local fraternal organizations, the VFW and the Elks, offered prompts that allowed for the integration of ELA, civics, and history. Students chose to write about “Why I Honor the American Flag” or “What Makes You Proud of America.” Here is an excerpt from one 6th grader: “This flag is an important part of our past, holding our beliefs, history and pride within itself. Heck, there’s even a whole song about it called “The Star Spangled Banner.” You’ve probably heard it during the Super Bowl, and other events. Listen closely to it next time you hear it.” This exercise also led us to timely discussions about the elections and Veterans Day.
