Objective:

1.Students will be able to recall the designer of the Arkansas flag.
2. Students will locate Wabbaseka, Pine Bluff, and Little Rock on a map of Arkansas.
3. Students will write at least one paragraph explaining the symbolism of the Arkansas flag.
4.*Extension objective* Students will design a flag to represent their family and will explain the meaning of their family flag through presentation.

Set: Display an Arkansas state flag. Ask your students: Why do you think our state flag looks like this? Allow students to answer and share their thoughts.

Key Facts: In 1913, the Pine Bluff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution wanted to present a flag to the U.S.S. Arkansas upon its commission. This group of ladies wrote a letter to Secretary of State Earl Hodges about their plans. He wrote a letter in return informing the ladies that there was no state flag. The Pine Bluff D.A.R. decided to hold a contest to solve this problem. Sixty-five desgins were submitted, and many included the state flower, the apple blossom. The winning flag was designed by Miss Willie K. Hocker of Wabbaseka. She was also a teacher in Pine Bluff. The flag was adpted in 1913, but went through three revisions before it became what it is today.

Activities:

1. Briefly tell your student the story of the flag contest and Miss Hocker. Explain the Secretary of State and that his office was and still is located in Little Rock. Have students locate Miss Hocker's hometown, Wabbaseka, the town where she taught, Pine Bluff, and the state capital, Little Rock, on a state map.

2. Organize students into small groups of 3 -4 students in each.

3. Discuss symbols. Ask students: Why do you think that people use symbols? Students discuss in groups. Point out that there are three colors on the state flag. Ask students to identify those colors and to infer as to why those colors were used. **Red, white, and blue were used to show that Arkansas was one of the United States of America.

4. Next, point out the diamond shape around the name "Arkansas". What do they think the diamond represents? What would that shape or a diamond mean in Arkansas? **The diamond represents that Arkansas is the only diamond producing state in the Union.

5. Ask student groups to now notice the stars in the border of the diamond. Have student groups count the stars and discuss what the stars may be symbolic of. **The stars around the border of the diamond are symbolic of Arkansas being the 25th state admitted to the Union.

6. Next, point out the three stars under "Arkansas". Have the groups discuss what these stars might represent. **The three large stars represent that Arkansas has been ruled by three different nations (Spain, France, and the United States). Also, Arkansas was the third state formed from the Louisiana Purchase (after Louisiana and Missouri.)

7. At this point, tell your students that Miss Hocker's original design did not include the word "Arkansas" or the large star in the center above the name. These were added during the revision process. **The center star at the top represents that Arkansas was a part of the Confederacy from 1861-1865.

8. OPTIONAL EXTENSION: Give students a piece of paper or fabric. Ask them to design their own flag to represent their family. Give them several days to work on their design. One the due date, students should present their flags and explain the meaning of their symbols.

Assessment: Students will write at least one paragraph explaining how the Arkansas flag came into existence. They should include symbol meanings, why the contest was held, and who the designer of the flag was.