The 2005-2006 fifth grade students in Mr. Kornblatt's class have created personal flags that express their identities and ways that they view their lives. They are pleased to share them with you, as well as their words of explanation. We have included a brief description of the term, vexillography, that we hope you find interesting.
Vexillology is a word derived from the Latin vexillum, a term used by the Romans to refer to a kind of standard with a fabric hung from a horizontal crossbar on a pole.
It is the nearest equivalent in the classical languages to what we call a flag today.
The Roman legion had a variety of standards: the eagle (which was used more often than the others) the wolf, the minotaur, the horse,
and the boar were carried in front of different elements of the legion.
All were animal totems, reflecting what is considered to be the religious beliefs of an agricultural society.
In battle and on the march, the standards were important as rallying points.
To lose, or surrender, a standard, especially the eagle itself, was considered a serious disgrace.
Related words: vexillophily: A special fondness for flags and their meanings; vexillophilist, one who has a fondness or love of flags.
The flag is a powerful instrument for social participation and communication.
Flag is a word of Teutonic (Germanic) origin used from the 15th to the 16th centuries in various northern European languages
to signify a piece of cloth, bunting, or similar material that displayed the insignia of a community, an armed force, an office, or an individual.
It is this last definition that the following flag designs reflect. The images are thumbnail size. To view full size, click on each flag.
"I love to travel the world.
It's funner than fun. I've traveled to many places. I've been to Minnesota the most.
I want to travel the whole world and explore."
by Fuecheng
"My Flag
I love to play baseball in big green fields.
I love to swim so much my mom says I am a fish.
I like green fields
because green is my favorite color."
by Ryan P.
"The girl represents me and my culture.
I love to dance.
The heart represents me and my family. I love my family.
The soccer ball represents me and what I love to do for fun with my friends.
The whole flag represents me, and that I love to color."
by Valeria
"I'm on my way"
"I'm on my way
I'm hiking to the top
I'm on my way
I'm never going to stop
I'm on my way
I'm learning every single day
Now listen now.
I'm on my way!"
by Ryan E.
"I like soccer.
It is in the sky.
Because they kick it very high.
The soccer ball means that my life is playing soccer."
by Irving
"Like water, people always come together.
I love company and working with others.
That is what the water drop represents.
The different colors around the droplet represent the different colors of the world
and that no matter what their skin color, everyone should be treated equally.
The green represents the outdoors and shows that I love to play and explore outside.
That is my flag."
by Emily
"My flag is about me and what I like to play.
There is a soccer ball because it's fun.
There is a basketball because I like playing it.
The star means Peace."
by Saliou
"The sun gives you energy and the moon is like one cool symbol.
The stars are the special part of the flag,
the good, symmetrical part."
by Pheara P.
"The green is the land which is fun to play with and work with.
The blue is the water because I love to swim.
The yellow design is there because I like to draw.
And it is sort of crooked because nothing is perfect not even me!"
by Molly
"The symbol in the middle means that I really like people,
how I connect to them,
and that I love communicating.
The yellow shows that I have a great personality and that I like bright colors.
The green means that the grass is [always] greener on the other side."
by Maddy
"My star says that I like to be free.
It means freedom.
I like to sleep and be free."
by Michael
"My flag has yellow, orange, and musical notes.
I put in the yellow because I like to wear yellow and I eat bananas.
The orange is on there because I like oranges
and I get to wear an orange patrol belt.
The musical notes are there because I like to dance."
by Brittany
"A baseball floating in the water
its stitches are green and I like to swim.
It is my flag.
My favorite color looks like nature.
My flag."
by Ari
"I like soccer because I play every day.
And I want to be a soccer player."
by Oscar
"The soccer ball is about soccer.
The two things outside are feet and goal nets.
The soccer ball in the middle is going up high because I'm good at soccer.
I like to play goalie."
by Edi
"My flag is special to me
because the heart is for love for my family!
The peace symbol is for peace in the world.
Last but not least,
the sun is energy to me because I am very athletic!"
by Karen M.
"I made a heart because it shows Love.
I show love to my family.
I show it to my friends.
That's what makes a great friendship!"
by Vanessa
by Malik
"My symbol stands for Peace.
I picked yellow and blue because they look peaceful.
I picked Peace for cooperation and government."
byJorge
by Aron
Last update: April 17, 2006
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