Patriotism is a growing concern in our nation today. One of the ways to teach children patriotism is to have them be in an informative play or program. Many schools and teachers are looking for programs to fit this description that are easy to put on and take very little practice time to present. With all the teaching and testing that teachers are required to do for the "No Child Left Behind" idea has left them with little time to do the creative programs for their students.

These programs also need to teach and educate students in a creative way about their country. The programs or plays show them just what a priceless gift freedom is for them to celebrate and embrace. Teaching them about respect for their flag, country and other patriotic symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial is important for patriotism to take root in young children.

Some children learn about flag etiquette, learn what to do when taps is played. What should you do if you are wearing a hat? Some students have learned or know what the Statue of Liberty and other symbols are, but they have never heard or learned the story behind the symbol. We need to take time to teach the story of how these symbols of history came about and why they are so important to our country.

The first time that I had a man come into our school and play taps even the adults did not know what the correct protocol was. Many sat not knowing that they should stand and so even the adults were taught when the first person stood, which is the correct thing to do.

The flag being used in assemblies help the students know that they need to stand when a color guard walks by. They need to know where the flag should be placed in a room. They need to know that when they drive by a business that is flying 3 flags and have the middle flag being Canadian instead of the two American flags on the end that that is incorrect display. Students need to know how to raise a flag, fold a flag and that a flag can been cleaned. One of my Social Studies tests was that all my students had to fold the flag correctly. Yes, all! The girls thought only boys could do it because they were scouts.

Programs can teach about the symbols. Programs using the Bill of Rights help students remember what those rights are. Programs using all the wonderful music that has been written about our country gives them feelings of pride. Programs honoring those who have served our country are very helpful to teach the students that their freedom was paid for with sweat and blood. Having some of those service men come and talk to the students really help them see that there are real people that fight not just pictures on a game screen.

I have found that when my students participated in a program they learned a lot more than when it was just done in the classroom. The year we did all of the Amendments in the Bill of Rights in September they remembered those rights clearly until we studied them in January and February in our text book. The students need to feel that patriotic feeling when they sing a patriotic song because usually the feeling does not come when you read it in a text book.