Make a Paper Chain American Flag: Fun Patriotic Craft for Kids & Scouts

Looking for a hands-on way to celebrate American pride with your Cub Scouts or classroom? This paper chain American flag is the perfect project. Not only is it a creative way to learn about the U.S. flag, but it also fulfills part of the Paws For Action Adventure (req. 2), allowing kids to make a model or craft that represents a symbol of the United States. This can also work as patriotic classroom decor!

Let your kids work on the flag and figure it out with only a little guidance. The flag may not be perfect, but they will have problem solved, worked together, and come out with a great-looking product (even if it’s not perfect, it’s ok)

Supplies Needed:

Craft Paper (red, white, and blue)
Glue, Tape, or Stapler
Scissors
White Stars (stickers or cutouts)

Instructions:

Cut out 70 blue strips
Cut out 100 red strips
Cut out 90 white strips

Create the blue field:
Create 7 columns of 10 blue loops by taping, gluing or stapling them into interlocking loops.

Create the red strips:
1. Make 4 columns of red strips using 9 loops. (you should have 4 red strips left over – hang onto these)
2. Make 3 columns of red strips using 20 loops in each column.

Create the white strips:
1. Make 3 columns of white strips using 9 loops (you should have 3 white strips left over – hang onto these)
2. Make 3 columns of white strips using 20 loops in each column.

Assembling the flag:
1. Take 1 of your blue columns you created and one of your short red columns (9 loops), and using a red strip of paper, attach it to your blue column. Repeat with all of your short red columns.

2. Take 1 of your blue columns you created and one of your short white columns (9 loops) and using a white strip attach it to your blue column. Repeat with all of your short white columns.

3. You should now have 4 blue and red columns and 4 blue and white columns. You can now hang them up, starting with a blue and red first, a blue and white second, then a blue and red one again. Continue repeating until your blue field is done.

4. Next, you can hang your solid white column, then your solid red column, and continue until all of your columns are hanging side by side. You should now see an American flag.

5. Attach the white stars to the blue field, and you are done!