Flags

Semiphore flags are well known to sailors; now use them to spice up your classroom and Language Arts curriculum.

Directions:

• On 8" by 8" sheets of white paper, draw each of the 26 flags of the Semiphore alphabet.
  
  
  
  
• Post the flags on a bulletin board.
• Use this board as a learning center.
• Post the following activities on the board:
  1. Make a list of all the ways that you can think of that these particular flags can be used.
  2. Imagine you are a flag. What do you look like? Where do you wave? What is yourparticular job? Write a personal narrative about your life.
  3. Using any research materials you can think of, such as encyclopedias, the internet, or trade books, write a brief two to three paragraph report about semiphore.
  4. (Provide white paper near the board) Using the paper here at the board, your markers, crayons, or colored pencils, and a ruler, create enough 4cm by 4cm flags to form your first name. Cut these out and attach them vertically to yarn to form a semiphore name banner. Hang the banner in the room.
  5. Select ten of your spelling words. On your own sheet of paper write these words in semiphore.
  6. Think of a recent book you have read. Write a brief recommendation for it in semiphore. Post your message in the room.