Massachusetts is looking for a new flag design, and Fay’s second graders have some ideas! After a year-long exploration of Massachusetts, including its Indigenous communities, diverse regions, notable figures, and key institutions, second graders have been learning about flag design. They are submitting their own ideas for a redesigned Massachusetts state flag to the state for consideration.

Established in 2024, the Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Committee has put out an open call to educators, students, artists, and historians to submit their ideas for updated versions of these important symbols. To understand the importance of flags and the art of flag design, students studied the Massachusetts flag and other state flags, discussing the elements of good flag design: simplicity, symbolism, using no more than two or three colors, no lettering or seals, and making thoughtful connections to other flags where appropriate, but remaining distinctive. Drawing from everything they had learned about Massachusetts, students could work independently or with a partner to design a new state flag. They chose symbols and colors that they felt were important to include in a Massachusetts flag, wrote about their significance, and then brainstormed three different designs before choosing a favorite. Students incorporated a variety of symbols that evoke Massachusetts, such as codfish for the state’s rich fishing history, maple leaves for our beautiful fall colors, and books to represent the state’s role in hosting so many institutions of higher learning. They also thought about aspects of the current flag that they didn’t like, such as the inclusion of weapons and text, to ensure that their new flag represented purposeful change. 

Once students had completed their designs, they used self-adhesive felt to build a layered prototype. Their final designs will be submitted to the state commission for consideration!