DLTK's Crafts for Kids
American Flag on a Pencil Craft

As a boring old grown-up I sometimes have to remind myself that the projects I've seen and done with a zillion Brownie troops are still exciting for the kids.  This is one of them.  Something about creating your own little flag to wave during a picnic or parade is great fun!

Tip:  Older children and adults can use sharpened pencils (and use them as pencils - the flag is a fun pencil topper), but young children should use an unsharpened pencil or straw so that they don't accidentally use the pointy end of their flag as a weapon.

Materials:

• pencil or straw
• paper,
• printer,
• pencil crayons if using the black and white version,
• scissors,
• glue

Instructions:

• Print out the template.  Each template makes two flags.
• Color the template, if using the B&W option.  I think pencil crayons work best for this particular project.  Crayons are hard to use in the tight spaces between the stars.  (Having said that, young kids can just scribble away as best they can and will still proudly wave their project).
• Cut out the template -- do not cut down the center line!  If you accidentally cut down the center, just tape it back together again.
• Fold the template down the center line and lay it on the table, slightly open.
• Slide the pencil (or straw) into the template so it's up against the crease, with the eraser end just barely sticking up over the top.
• Put glue on the template and press the two sides together.
• Let dry for at least an hour.

Templates:

• Close template window when done printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Small Flag Template        color  or   B&W