Americana Vest & Shirt and Patriotism

This lesson is perfect for your class if you are working on a unit about the United States and patriotism. Your students will love making this fun patriotic vest.

GRADE LEVEL SUBJECT TIME FRAME TOTAL BUDGET CURRICULUM/STATE STANDARD
6 Arts 4-6 hours Under $50 US N/A

Objectives:
  • The students will demonstrate the ability to recognize and explain the importance of various patriotic symbols.
  • The students will demonstrate the ability to create a patriotic vest using the given materials.

Materials:
  • Dimensional fabric paint: Burgundy, Midnight blue, Spruce green
  • Gold glitter
  • Brush paint extender
  • Rubber stamps: I "Love", Americana Stars, Americana Heart
  • 3/4" or 1" flat brush
  • Disappearing ink pen
  • Washable glue
  • 3, 1/2" burgundy buttons
  • Masking tape or straight pins
  • T-shirt, cotton or 50/50 poly/cotton blend, white or off-white
  • Shirt board form, Vest, cotton or 50/50 poly/cotton blend, white or off white
  • The American Flag: The Symbol of our Nation by Thomas Parrish
  • Other books relating to the United States and patriotic symbols

Readiness/Activity: Not applicable.

Strategies/Activities: Not applicable.

Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Hold up an American flag in front of the class and ask the students to think about the importance of this symbol. Then read the story The American Flag: The Symbol of our Nation to the class.
  2. Discuss the contents of this story. It takes you through the history of the American flag and deals with facts symbols related to it.
  3. Ask your students to think about some other symbols that represent our country. Explain that these are patriotic symbols (the students may include patriotic songs). Ask if anyone can define "patriotic". If not, have a student look it up in the dictionary.
  4. Write the definition of patriotic on large chart paper.
  5. Allow the students to spend some time looking through books relating to other patriotic symbols or documents including the Statue of Liberty; The Declaration of Independence; "The American Anthem"; and different famous coins.
  6. Have students choose a symbol that they would like to write about and then illustrate on poster board.
  7. After they finish their research the students can share their findings with the class.
  8. Next, explain to the students that you are going to have a celebration in class entitled "Patriotic Day." The students can bring in red, white and blue food; play various patriotic songs; visit other classrooms; do presentations on patriotic symbols; and decorate the classroom in red, white and blue. Have the students brainstorm for other ideas.
  9. Then explain to the students that they are also going to make very special patriotic vests and t-shirts to wear for the celebration.
Directions for Making the Shirts and Vests
  1. Prewash t-shirt and vest. Do not use fabric softener.
  2. Slip garments over shirtboard forms and secure with masking tape or straight pins. Mix equal parts burgundy paint and brush extender. Mix equal parts midnight blue paint and brush extender.
  3. Paint alternate color-mixture stripes 3/4" to 1" apart on left side of vest from top edge to bottom.
  4. Squeeze out midnight blue into the star area of the Americana heart stamp. Squeeze out burgundy in alternate stripes. Outline edge of remaining stripes in stamp with glitter paint. Press stamp onto vest. Repeat for all flowers. Fill in glitter stripes with paint directly from bottle.
  5. Fill in the heart area of the I "Love" stamp with spruce gtreen. Press onto vest and repeat for all leaves.
  6. Draw in stems with the disappearing ink pen. Squeeze on spruce green stems. Let dry.
  7. Squeeze on glitter color veins and dots, outline stars, create wavy lines around vertical stripes and adhere or glue buttons if desired. Let dry flat overnight.
  8. Fill in Americana Stars stamp with burgundy mixture in center and midnight blue mixture on either side. Press onto neckline and sleeves, turning stamp to vary design. Squeeze out glitter color wavy lines and dots to connect stamps around neckline. Let dry flat overnight.
  9. Do not wash for at least 72 hours. Wash and rinse in warm water only, delicate cycle. Air dry. Iron on reverse side if needed.



Culminating Activity: Not applicable.

Evaluation:
Students are evaluated based on their creativity and accuracy of completng the project.

This Lesson Plan submitted by:
Jon Bon Jovi, Michaels
www.michaels.com