Skip Links

  • Go to home page [Accesskey '0']
  • Go to content [Accesskey '1']
  • Go to Top Navigation menu links [Accesskey '2']
  • Go to main menu links [Accesskey '3']
  • Go to footer menu links [Accesskey '4']
  • Go to Accessability Page [Accesskey '5']
Pearson
  • Menu
  • Contact
  • Cart (0)
  • CANADA
 
  • Site
  • Contact
  • Cart (0)

Find Solutions by:

Discipline
  • Advanced Placement
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Catholic Resources
  • French as a Second Language
  • French Immersion
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Professional Resources
Topics
  • Early Learning
  • Assessment
  • English Language Learners
  • eText
  • Fountas and Pinnell Literacy™
  • Indigenous Resources
  • Jennifer Serravallo
  • K-12 Catalogues
  • Levelled Book Finder
  • Provincial Resources
  • Spark Reading
  • Special Days Calendar
Grade Level
  • Early Learning
  • Elementary
  • Secondary
  • Professional Learning
Implementation
  • Implementation Support
  • Professional Services
  • Fountas & Pinnell Classroom
  • Leveled Literacy Intervention
  • Benchmark Assessment System
  • Bug Club Phonics
  • Mathology
  • Spark Reading
  • French
  • Words Their Way
  • Units of Study
Customers
  • Copyright Usage Guidelines
  • Price Lists & Order Forms
  • Help & Support
  • Idea Submission & Reviewer Page
  • Find Your Sales Representative
  • Implementation Support
  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I)
 
loading...

Search Results:

close
 
    Sorry, we couldn't find any results.

    Before You Buy

    Contact your sales rep
    Have questions? Make a selection to find your rep:

    reset

    LOADING...
    Contact Customer Service

    About a purchase you have made

    • Contact Technical Support
    • Contact Customer Service
    • Accessibility/Students with Disabilities Request
     
    • Special Days Calendar
      •  > Flag Day

    Special Awareness Days

    • Home
      • Home
      • Special Days Calendar
     
     

     

    February 15th - National Flag Day

      Pinterest

    Introduction

    In 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson formed a committee to find a flag that would represent Canada and replace the Canadian Red Ensign (a variation of a British merchant marine flag which featured the Union Jack in the corner).

    Over 4,000 submissions were received from all walks of life and after consideration, the red and white maple leaf was chosen. On December 17th, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the maple leaf as the official flag of Canada.

    It was raised for the first time on February 15th, 1965 on Parliament Hill. Since 1996, National Flag Day has been recognized every February 15th.

    More information about Canada’s history regarding its national flag can be found here.

     

    Activity Bursts

    Grades K-2

    Social Studies, Music

    Ask students to describe Canada’s flag (or draw it).

    Prior to February 15th, send a memo, asking students to wear red and white, if possible, to represent our Canadian colours. Invite students to include an item of clothing that represents their heritage, if they wish.

    Rehearse the singing of “O Canada” and involve students in singing and recording the event. Here are some other options for celebrating National Flag Day:

    • Search online for videos of O Canada in sign language. Pause periodically so students can follow along. You could practise signing the anthem every day so students feel confident including it in their daily opening routine. 
    • Learn and sing the national anthem in French or another language represented in your class.
    • Interview your students about what they love most about Canada, then compile and share their responses. 

     

     

    Grades 3-5

    Social Studies, Art

    Review the history of the Canadian Flag above. Ask the students:

    • Why do you think it was important for Canada to have its own flag? Discuss.
    • If you could list the best things about living in Canada, what would they be? 

    Remind students that the Canadian flag represents our pride in being Canadian. When people see this flag, we want them to know immediately that it belongs to Canada.

    Brainstorm with students what is important or special about their Canadian school and record their ideas.

    Have students create a flag that would represent all the good things about their school. Remind them to select colours, images, icons, or slogans that they feel represent their school.

    Create the flags digitally if possible. When the flags are complete, vote on the 4 or 5 that the class feels represent their school best. Consider having someone (perhaps a parent volunteer?) sew and hang your new flag!

    Process and connect the activity to National Flag Day by asking:

    • Why do you think that pride in your school and pride in your country are important? Discuss.
    • Now that you have created and selected a school flag, what are your thoughts about how difficult it must have been to create a flag that represents all the good things about a big country like Canada? Talk about it.

     

    Grades 6-8

    History, Research, Critical Thinking

    Explain to students that selecting a flag to represent Canada was no easy task. In fact, it took over a century for Canada to get a flag we could call our own. There were many suggestions and many submissions but the “flag debate” was a long, drawn-out affair. As a class, view the CBC News video “The real story behind the Canadian Flag.”

    Invite students to view some of the flag designs that did not make the cut found here.

    Have students design a Canadian flag that they feel would represent Canada as they see it today. Post the designs and invite students to share the reasoning behind their design choices and their impressions of their fellow artists’ flags. 

     

    Additional Activities

    All Grades

    For additional activities to celebrate Canada’s Flag Day, check out the Canadian Heritage Teacher’s Corner.

     

     

    Special Days This Month

     

    Feb. 20th - Hoodie-Hoo Day

    Canada’s Agriculture Day

    Pink Shirt Day

    Feb. 26th - Tell a Fairy Tale Day

     
     
     
     
     

    Browse School Canada

     

    Discipline

    • Advanced Placement
    • Arts
    • Business
    • Catholic Resources
    • French as a Second Language
    • French Immersion
    • International Baccalaureate
    • Literacy
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • Social Studies
    • Professional Resources

    Grade Level

    • Early Learning
    • Elementary
    • Secondary
    • Professional Learning

    Topics

    • Early Learning
    • Assessment
    • English Language Learners
    • eText
    • Fountas and Pinnell Literacy™
    • Indigenous Resources
    • Jennifer Serravallo
    • K-12 Catalogues
    • Levelled Book Finder
    • Provincial Resources
    • Spark Reading
    • Special Days Calendar

    Implementation

    • Implementation Support
    • Professional Services
    • Fountas & Pinnell Classroom
    • Leveled Literacy Intervention
    • Benchmark Assessment System
    • Bug Club Phonics
    • Mathology
    • Spark Reading
    • French
    • Words Their Way
    • Units of Study

    TO PLACE AN ORDER BY PHONE:
    1 (800) 361-6128

    Customers

    • Copyright Usage Guidelines
    • Price Lists & Order Forms
    • Help & Support
    • Idea Submission & Reviewer Page
    • Find Your Sales Representative
    • Implementation Support
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I)
     
    Other Pearson Sites
    • Higher Education Canada
    • Pearson Assessment
     
    Copyright © 2023 Pearson Canada Inc. All rights reserved.
    School Division Home About Us Contact Us
    Terms of Use Privacy Accessibility Site Search