Activities to help you learn about the flags of the world

There are 195 flags outside the United Nations headquarters in the US city of New York. A flag is like a badge that tells us what that country represents. Some flags have stripes; some have stars; and some have pictures. Each flag’s design has its own meaning.

For example, China’s flag has five yellow stars to symbolise how everyone in the country can work together. The American flag has 50 stars – one for every state – and the 13 stripes represent the original colonies that were ruled by Britain.

Flags can also tell us about a country’s culture. For example, the Japanese flag has a red circle in the middle to represent the sun. According to traditional stories, the sun goddess was the one who founded the country.

On the Malaysian flag, the crescent and star are a symbol of Islam, the religion many people there follow.

By learning about the world’s flags, we can have a better understanding of the countries, cultures and people they represent.

Create your own flag

Materials

• half a sheet of paper

• colour pencils

• markers

• drinking straw

• tape

Instructions

1. List out the items, values and hobbies that mean a lot to you.

2. Choose colours and symbols to represent the things on your list. For example, if you like art, you can draw a paintbrush on your flag. Or if your family and friends are important to you, you can add a heart.

3. Draw a draft of your flag design on paper. Use markers or colour pencils to colour in your flag.

4. Tape your flag to the top of a drinking straw.

5. Share your flag with your friends and family, and explain what it represents.

Your flag should represent what is important to you. Photo: Shutterstock

Flag matching game

Materials

• paper

• printer

• scissors

• 24 index cards

• glue

Instructions

1. Choose 12 countries that you don’t know much about. Find pictures of their flags online, and print them out. The images should be small enough to fit on an index card.

2. Cut out the flags and glue them onto index cards. Write the names of each country on separate index cards.

3. Grab a friend to play the game with you! Mix up the cards, and place them face down on a table.

4. The first player picks two cards and sees if the country name and flag match. If the player identifies them correctly, they keep the cards. If not, they must flip the cards face down again.

5. Take turns picking and guessing until all the cards are taken. The player with the most flag cards at the end of the game wins.

Can you recognise all of these countries? Photo: Shutterstock