Scott Foresman ESL
Level 2

Teacher Support

What is Flag Day?

Learn about Flag Day, and read about the other people, places, and events in Scott Foresman ESL 2. These links bring you to sites with more detailed information on the history and culture covered in the text. You can use these extra facts and stories to give your students a better understanding about the context of each chapter.

page 14: Designated Hard Hat Area
Read about the history of the hard hat, now a standard item of protection in construction areas.

page 41: firefighter
Take a virtual tour of a firefighter's protective equipment.

page 112: party games: tag, hide-and-seek
Click on the topics to learn the rules of tag, hide-and-seek, and other children's games:

pages 113 and 115: piñata
Read about the history and symbolism of piñatas and learn how to make them.

page 114: picture of recycling bins
Look at two communities' instructions about sorting glass, paper, and cans for recycling:

page 152: Navajo Indians

page 163: modern Western calendar
Learn about the basic components of the Western calendar, its history, and holidays.

pages 180-181: Native Americans and Spanish settlers

page 182-183: The Pilgrims
Learn who the Pilgrims were and how they traveled to North America:

page 184: Thanksgiving
Learn about the history of Thanksgiving in the United States and hear an interview with two pilgrims from the Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum.

page 185: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Read an illustrated history of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University gives an interactive timeline of the life of America's foremost civil rights leader. (Click on "Interactive Timeline" on the left side of the website's opening page.)

page 185, word bank: Chinese New Year
The sites describe the Chinese New Year, including topics about the celebration, traditional foods and decorations.

page 185, word bank: Christmas
These sites describe the story and celebration of Christmas, including Christmas trees, mistletoe, and the legend of Santa Claus.

page 185, word bank: Cinco de Mayo
Read a brief description of Cinco de Mayo and how it is celebrated:

page 185, word bank: Hanukkah
Click on the topics to read the history of Hanukkah, learn how to play with a dreidel, and discover the significance of the menorah.

page 185, word bank: Kwanzaa
Learn about the origin of Kwanzaa and the seven principles dedicated to each day of the celebration.

page 186 (in calendar): Memorial Day
Read about the origin and importance of Memorial Day:

page 186 (in calendar): Flag Day
Read about Flag Day:

page 187 (in calendar): Independence Day

pages 188-189: Têt (New Year)
Learn about the tradition and festivities of the Vietnamese New Year.

page 215: map of the United States
Go to these sites for simple maps of the United States: