Fun with Character: E Pluribus Unum
E Pluribus Unum is the motto carried by the American Eagle depicted in the Great Seal of the United States. It is most often translated as “Out of Many, One”. This Latin phrase was well-known by the statesmen designing the seal. It appeared on the title page of the annual volume of the Gentleman’s Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer – next to a drawing of a hand holding a bouquet of different flowers. America was originally likened to a bouquet, where unity and individuality coexisted – not a “melting pot” that blended everyone together.
To build on the symbolism of the bouquet, create a bouquet in the classroom that symbolizes the unity and individuality of the classroom community. Download the picture of the flower or use one of your own. Have the students color the flower using whatever medium they choose. Once the flowers are complete, you can glue a beverage straw to the back so they can be placed in a vase, or they can be displayed on a bulletin board or hung on the classroom door without the straw. When all the flowers are complete, you can create a ritual to add them to a large vase (decorated with the motto) or put them on the bulletin board. You can play patriotic music and have each student add their flower, one by one.
When finished, process the activity with these or similar questions:
Did you like learning about the Motto?
What did each of the flowers that you created represent?
Did you notice how the more flowers we added, the prettier the (vase, board, door) became?
How does creating these flowers represent the unity and individuality of our classroom?
How will you act toward someone who is different than you?