Freedom Flag

Download "Freedom, Oh Freedom" as an mp3 or notation PDF. Before playing the song for students, ask what "freedom" means to them. Write their responses on the board. After listening to the song, encourage students to describe the song's meaning of "freedom" and contrast that meaning with their earlier responses.

Next, help students explore what "freedom" has meant to different groups throughout history. Work with a school media specialist to locate age-appropriate books describing different groups' struggles to attain freedom in the U.S. — abolition, suffrage or civil rights, for example. Working in diverse small groups or pairs, students should select and read a book and then prepare and present an oral report. As a class, compare and contrast the visions of freedom in each work, identifying key words that represent different sentiments of "freedom."

Using red, white and blue construction paper, create a class "Freedom Flag," by writing the key words for freedom on strips of red and white paper; cut-out a star for each student's name. Construct the flag and hang it prominently in the classroom or display on a bulletin board. As a closing activity for older students, ask them to write one paragraph or short essays about what freedom means to them. Younger students can illustrate examples of the words listed under different categories. Hang or display these mini-essays or illustrations around the "Freedom Flag."