How to set up a patriotic math craft for elementary kids

My dad would always take is out to the flag pole on all the national holidays like Memorial Day or Independence Day. He let us help raise the star spangled banner then we recited the pledge of allegiance. As we prepared for July 4 this year, we spent some time talking about the flag and what it means. I came up with this patriotic craft for my daughter who just completed kindergarten, and we talked about what the stars I the field of blue represent. It just so happens that it was perfect math practice as well.

Your child who has completed kindergarten will be able to do this start spangled math craft independently. Perfect for Independence Day, Memorial Day, or Flag Day.

This math craft fulfills K.CC.A.1 Counting to 100 by 1's and 10's and K.G.B.5 Model hapes in the world by building shapes from components and drawing shapes.

Material and tools for this patriotic math craft

blue paper

At least 75 star stickers, cut apart

scissors

pencil

ruler

If you need a July 4 craft that your child can do independently, you can make notes giving your child directions for each part. The first note would read, "Make a square." Beside the note leave the blue paper, scissors, pencil and ruler. Let her figure out how to make the square on her own.

My daughter was proud to show off that she knew what defined a square and enjoyed figuring out how to use the tools to make one.

The second note should read "Count out fifty stickers, and prove that there are fifty."

Be sure to let your child figure this out on their own! I was a little surprised at the complexity of my former kindergartner' solution.

She chose to make two squares, each consisting of five rows and columns. Any answer that demonstrates that there are fifty stickers is correct.

The final note should read, "Place your fifty stickers on the square." This part of the project allows the child to be artist and think about the different options for her stickers and square. It also sneaks in a little painless fine motor practice.