GRADES 3-5 1
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Objective: Students apply historical information to math problems to gain an
understanding of the flag’s size.
Time: 50 minutes (in class or homework)
Skills: Measurement, finding area and perimeter, metric system, subtraction
Content Area: Mathematics- Geometry, Mathematics- Measurement, Social Studies-
United States history
Materials:
♦ Copies of the math problems and “Flag Facts”
Standards:
NCHS History Standards
K-4 Historical Content Standards
4E: The student understands national symbols through which American
values and principles are expressed.
5-12 U. S. History Content Standards
Era 4: Expansion and Reform (1801—61)
1A: The student understands the international background and
consequences of the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, and the
Monroe Doctrine.
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
3-5 Standards: Geometry
Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two- and three-dimensional
shapes and develop vocabulary to describe the attributes
Use geometric models to solve problems in other areas of mathematics, such
as number and measurement
Recognize geometric ideas and relationships and apply them to other
disciplines and to problems that arise in the classroom or in everyday life
K-2 Standards: Measurement
Understand such attributes as length, area, weight, volume, and size of angle
and select the appropriate type of unit for measuring each attribute
Understand the need for measuring with standard units and become familiar
with standard units in the customary and metric systems
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Select and apply appropriate standard units and tools to measure length,
area, volume, weight, time, temperature, and the size of angles
Develop, understand, and use formulas to find the area of rectangles and
related triangles and parallelograms
3-5 Standards: Problem Solving
Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts
Introduction:
A variety of math problems can be created based on the Star-Spangled Banner, so that
children can learn about the flag while they are improving their math skills. Below are
some sample problems, based on the information given in “Flag Facts.” You can also
find more research on and images of the Star-Spangled Banner at
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner
.
Directions:
1. Write the information from “Flag Facts” on the blackboard.
2. Solve the suggested problems in class.
3. Ask your class to write their own word problems about the flag as a homework
assignment.
“Flag Facts”
The original Star-Spangled Banner measured 30 feet by 42 feet when it was created in
1813. In the 1800s, a few people were given pieces of the flag as mementoes. Some of
the flag was lost due to wear and tear through use. The flag was given to the National
Museum of American History in 1912. Today, the flag measures 30 feet by 34 feet.
Suggested Math Problems:
1. What was the perimeter of the original flag? What is the perimeter of the flag
today? What is the difference between the two perimeters?
2. What was the area of the original flag? What is the area of the flag today? Find
the difference. How much of the original flag was lost—measure the loss in
total area inches and in the fraction of the original area that was lost.
3. How old is the flag today? How old was it when it was given to the National
Museum of American History?
4. The flag was made with 15 stars. Each star is 24 inches wide. How wide is
each star in centimeters?
5. Each star on the American flag represents a state. How many more states are
there today than there were represented on the flag in 1813?
GRADES 3-5 2
GRADES 3-5 3
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For the History Channel
Editor Research
Libby O’Connell, Ph.D. Jamie Eschrict
V.P. Historical Alliances Jodi Greenwald
Kevin Blake
Business Manager
Beth Ann Marian, M.Ed. Creative Design
Madeline Gleason
Business Coordinator Wendy Toffel
Lourdes Gamez
Created By
Libby O’Connell, Ph.D.
Beth Ann Marian, M.Ed.
Kevin Blake
Jodi Greenwald
For The National Museum of American History
Director, Education and Visitor Services Director, Star-Spangled Banner Project
Nancy McCoy Ron Becker
Director, Hands-On Science Center Chief Conservator
Theresa Esterlund Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss
Education Specialists Curator, Star-Spangled Banner
Amy Bartow-Melia Conservation Exhibition
Burt Glassman Lonn Taylor
Tim Grove
Chief of Education, Lemelson Center
Michael Judd
Teacher Advisors
Gloria Allen, Bunker Hill Elementary, Washington, D.C.
Veronica Bryant, Cameron Elementary, Fairfax Co,. VA
Rhonda Dillard, Francis Scott Key Middle School, Montgomery Co., MD
Henry Edwards, Burgundy Farm Country Day, Alexandria, VA
Susan Hurscalderone, Blessed Sacrament, Chevy Chase, MD
Mike Rutherford, Manassas County Public Schools, VA
Robert Sindall, Cold Springs Elementary, Montgomery Co., MD
Vikki Wismer, Flintstone Elementary, Prince Georges Co., MD
