How To: Make an American flag out of popsicle sticks

Summer is coming so start saving your popsicle sticks (or more conveniently buy them from a craft store) to make your very own mini American flag. This is a great activity to take into the class room or just to pass the time on a summer's afternoon.

Make the perfect summer holiday craft for kids with a history lesson built in.

You Will Need

* Wax paper
* A work surface
* 13 Popsicle sticks
* Red acrylic paint
* White acrylic paint
* Two paintbrushes
* Craft glue
* A craft knife
* Blue construction paper
* A star stamp or white gel pen

Step 1: Paint sticks

Spread out the wax paper on a work surface to prevent sticking. Paint five popsicle sticks red and paint four white.

Step 2: Align

Align the painted sticks horizontally, one under the other, and glue their edges so that they form a rectangle.

Alternate red and white sticks, starting and ending with a red stick.

Step 3: Glue sticks together

Glue an unpainted stick to the far right edge of the rectangle for the start of the flagpole. Then use the craft knife and cut two popsicle sticks to the height of the rectangle. Glue them at the middle and the left edge of the rectangle.

Step 4: Cut star square

Cut a small square out of the construction paper and glue it to the corner of the flag on the side opposite the unpainted sticks. Use a star stamp with white paint or a white gel pen to draw the flag's stars.

If you're making this with a child, explain that the U.S. flag has 50 stars to represent the 50 states, and 13 stripes that represent the original colonies.

Step 5: Lengthen the pole

Glue another popsicle stick to the one serving as the flagpole to make the pole longer.

Step 6: Proudly wave

Wave your flag proudly on Independence Day, Memorial Day, or whenever you want to show your patriotism.

The stars and stripes of the early American flag originated from a resolution adopted by the Continental Congress in Philade