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Contributor: A. Castle. Lesson ID: 14373
Uncover surprising facts, hidden history, and curious stories about the American flag in this fun and fascinating lesson!
Secrets in the Stars and Stripes
Think again. Imagine a flag with six stripes instead of thirteen. Or picture a high school student designing the modern flag… and getting a B- for it.
Believe it or not, the American flag has traveled through outer space, appeared on pancakes, and even flown over pirate ships.
Get ready to uncover the hidden history, strange facts, and surprising stories tucked between the stars and stripes. There's a lot more to this flag than meets the eye.
A Flag in Progress
The American flag didn’t always look like it does today. In fact, there have been 27 different versions over time.
The number of stars changed with each new state. But here’s a twist: the first American flags didn’t even have stars.
Some early designs showed pine trees, coiled snakes, or even British flags in the corner.
When Congress approved the now-famous 13-stripe, star-spangled design in 1777, there were no rules about how the stars should be arranged. Some flags had stars in neat rows. Others looked like a star explosion—completely scattered.
The Teenage Designer
In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii were on the verge of becoming states. That’s when a 17-year-old student named Robert Heft created a new 50-star flag design for a school project.
The teacher gave him a B-, but Heft didn’t stop there. He mailed his flag design to Congress, and it eventually became the official flag of the United States.
His teacher later changed the grade to an A.
Wild Flag Facts
Moon Flag: The American flag planted on the moon during Apollo 11 tipped over when the astronauts blasted off.
Flag Pizza: In 1996, Pizza Hut delivered a pizza to the International Space Station—inside a heat-sealed packet with a tiny American flag.
Pirate Confusion: During the War of 1812, some American privateers flew a red-and-white striped flag with a skull and crossbones, tricking enemies into thinking they were pirates.
Not Just Stars and Stripes
Take a closer look at the colors. Red stands for valor, white for purity, and blue for justice. But those meanings weren’t official at first. They were later borrowed from the Great Seal of the United States.
Some people believe the colors were inspired by George Washington’s family crest, although there’s no solid proof.
Ready to Look Closer?
Now that you’ve explored some of the hidden history and wild facts behind the American flag, it’s time to test your knowledge and take a closer look.
Get ready to dive into the Got It? section—you might just uncover even more secrets along the way.
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