I Pledge• Mrs. Anthony’s class found out that to

pledge means to make a promise• Students read Aunt Clara Brown by

Linda Lowery. They found out that Clara Brown was a slave who promised that she would find her daughter. She hadn’t seen her since was little and she was sold away to another owner. She made a promise and she made a plan. She found her daughter when she was more than 80 years old. It took her many years and many travels. She was a slave to her promise. She went to so many states and she asked her friends to ask their friends. She made a pledge.

I Pledge• It means to make a sincere promise • Mr. Straub’s class read A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting.

To make a sincere promise, you have to be honest. A boy and a grandfather had a job. When they did the job wrong, they didn’t take half the money from the gardener who hired them. They said they would take the money the next day when they fixed their work. This book shows that it is important to be honest and keep your promises.

Allegiance• Mrs. Abcunas’ class found

out that allegiance means loyalty to a cause; an obligation of loyalty as to a government or private organization.

• Students read The Wall by Eve Bunting. They tell us that this story takes place in Washington, D.C. A father and son were there to find their grandfather’s name. The grandfather showed allegiance by going to war.

Allegiance• Mrs. McMann’s class found out that

allegiance means loyalty or obedience to one’s country or government.

• Students read Hold the Flag High by Catherine Clinton. They found out that during the Civil War, Sergeant Carney was so determined to show how dedicated he was to his country and fellow soldiers that he held the flag high during battle. Sergeant Carney was trying to keep the flag high so that the other soldiers could remember what they were fighting for and not give up! He was so incredibly brave and courageous!

Allegiance •Mrs. Mirabito’s class talked about what the word allegiance means for the citiznes of Waltham. They made a collage in the style of Eric Carle to show that allegiance is when everyone in a community supports one another.

To the Flag• Mrs. McClary’s Class read the

book The Flag We Love by Pam Munoz Ryan. They found out that our flag has 13 stripes for the original 13 colonies. There are 50 stars for the 50 states in America.

• Kindergarteners found out that you can see the American flag a lot places—in your home, classroom, the White House, where your mom and dad and grandparents work, at the fire station and on fire trucks, at the police station and on police trucks, in Boston, on an ambulance, at football and baseball games, on an airplane, at the gas station and even on people’s clothes!

To the Flag• Mrs. Blanchard’s class read Meet

Our Flag, Old Glory by April Jones Prince. They found out that it is red, white and blue. It has red and white stripes that look like candy canes. It has white stars in a blue background.

• They tell us that you can find the American flag in many places. It waves on houses, schools, the Moon, ball games, parades, the White House, and at the cemetery. You can find many American flags waving on the Fourth of July. It symbolizes freedom!!

Of the United States of America• Mrs. Ste. Marie’s class read

Wow! America by Robert Neubecker . They found out that some of the things that make our country special are the Statue of Liberty, volcanoes, the Mississippi River, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Gulf of Mexico and sequoias.

• The kids in grade 1 would like to see all these places plus Cape Kennedy and Niagara Falls.

Of the United States of America• Mrs.Duffy’s class read ABC USA

by Martin Jarrie . They said America is special because we have a great school and good friends here.

• They like living here because there are a lot of great places to visit in the United States and we are free to visit them all. We learn how to speak English and how to read at school in the United States. We like to Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

And to the Republic for which it stands• Ms. Arrigo’s class found out that

republic means a state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly by them and responsible to them.

• They read My Senator and Me by Edward Kennedy. They found out that to make something a law, a senator or representative needs to write a bill. The senators and representatives have to agree on the bill. The senators and representatives vote on the bill. The President then okays the bill if he agrees on it and it becomes a law. We can change laws by passing amendments that change our laws.

And to the Republic for which it stands• Mrs. Bower’s class found out that a

republic is a government with an elected president.

• They read I Could Do That! by Linda Arms White and Nancy Carpenter. They found out that Esther Morris helped get women to vote for governor of Wyoming, which led to women voting everywhere. She talked to the candidates and had them promise to introduce a bill in the legislature that would allow women to vote in Wyoming. We think she is a hero because she kept working to allow women to vote. She believed women did as much as men and should vote.

One Nation• Mrs. Libertini’s class read Those

Building Men by Angela Johnson. They found out that people worked together to build America’s train tracks, skyscrapers and buildings, water pipes, cars, bridges and houses.

• The men who built these were our fathers and men in our history. We are glad they built them. We live very comfortably.

Under God• Ms. Lenza’s class read Hanukkah at

Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky. They found out that General Washington was not the same religion as a soldier he met while inspecting his troops. General Washington learned from this soldier that the fight for liberty is an ancient one. No matter how dire the circumstances, our hope and faith can allow the weak to overpower the strong and be victorious.

• The Founding Fathers said that we have a freedom to practice our own religious beliefs in our country. The fifth graders think this is important. The reason this country was first settled was for religious freedom. No one should have the right to tell another person how they should worship. Liberty is what makes this nation strong. Our Founding Fathers rebelled against the British, fought the Revolutionary War and declared this land free just so we could have these privileges.

Indivisible• Ms. St. Laurent’s class found out that

indivisible means not able to be divided or broken into pieces. This means our country can’t be broken apart.

• They read Freedom Ship by Doreen Rappaport. They found out that during the Civil War families helped the soldiers by taking care of the ship, the canons, helping to steer to the North and raising the white blanket. The families were brave. They risked their lives to have freedom. If they were caught, they could have been shot at, or put in jail! The slave families stole a ship because they wanted freedom.

With Liberty• Mrs. Vardaro’s class found out that

liberty means freedom—you can do what you want so long as you don’t break the law.

• They read The Statue of Liberty by Marion Dane Bauer. They found out that this statue shows freedom. You have to follow the rules even though we are free. When people see the statue, they know they are in America. It means a new beginning. People who see it know they are free and not in slavery. It is New York and is a gift from France.

With Liberty• Mrs. Bousquet’s class found out that liberty

means freedom. You can do what you want and say what you want.

• They read How Many Days Till America? By Eve Bunting. They found out that the people in this story came to America because there was a war and they were scared so they walked through the streets quietly and came on a boat to America. They hid from soldiers because they were on the wrong side. They wanted to find food, freedom and to be safe from soldiers and wars. At the end of this book, the people have everything they need and they are thankful. They said “thank you” for what Americans gave them. When they got to America it was Thanksgiving.

With Liberty• Mrs. Rice’s class read the book

the Joining the Boston Tea Party by Diane Stanley. In this book, we noticed that the Colonists wanted justice and honor and freedom. They had to pay taxes, but they didn’t know why. The British were using the money for their own uses and it wasn’t fair. One night, the Colonists went to the 3 ships and dumped out all the tea until it smelled spicy because the tea had the unfair tax. In this book, liberty means free to have justice about how our money is spent.

And Justice• Ms. Carlin’s class found out that

justice means being fair and everyone is treated equally.

• They read a book about Cesar Chavez. They found out that Cesar Chavez fought with words. He organized a strike. That means that they would not work until they were treated better. He got farm workers to march with him. He made sure immigrants and farm workers were treated fairly.

And Justice• Ms. Villa’s class found out that justice

means the quality of being just; righteousness; equitableness, or moral rightness.

• They read March On! By Christine King Farris and found out that Martin Luther King wanted people to be treated fairly and equally. He wanted equal rights for all people. He wanted black and white children to go to the same schools. His speech made a big difference. Rules and laws changed, giving people equal rights. People consider him a hero because he started to change the beliefs of our society. He wanted all people to have civil rights.

For All• Mrs. Stering and Mrs. Gauvin’s class read Heroes

by Ken Mochizuki• In room 312 we believe that FOR ALL in our Pledge of Allegiance

means that everyone in the U.S.A. has the same rights. Everyone includes kids, babies, grandmas, grandpas, mothers and fathers. For all also gives rights to farmers, workers, teachers, businessmen, and even comedians. We can’t forget that for all also means Spanish Americans, Irish Americans, African Americans, Brazilian Americans, and all others how came to this country looking for freedom and became citizens. For all is including people who pray with a priest, a pastor, or a rabbi. Whatever their religion, they too are part of our U.S.A. community. Homeless, hobos, and presidents have the same rights as everyone else. We especially than the Veterans and Military men and women who have had a huge part in protecting our freedom and the rights of all the people of the United States of America.

For All

• Mrs. Carlson’s class read Ruby Bridgesby Ruby Bridges. They said that Ruby Bridges taught us to stand up for yourself and be brave. She showed that all children can come to school—dark people and light people can come. It was not easy for Ruby to do this because everyone was yelling, but she told them it was okay for white people and black people to go to school together. She is brave because all the people don’t want her at school. The school was just for white people. She did the right thing because she “standed” up for herself and that is fair. Everyone is equal.