Kids at the Plympton School in Waltham used books to help us understand the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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!!

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. For All
• Mrs. Carlson’s class read Ruby Bridges
by 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.